Head-to-head comparison
Bowling Green State University-Firelands vs ATA College-Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Option A Huron, OH
Bowling Green State University-Firelands
- Net price / year
- $17,480
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,896
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Cincinnati, OH
ATA College-Cincinnati
- Net price / year
- $27,055
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,577
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bowling Green State University-Firelands comes closer — median earnings $47,896 against a $34,960 total, vs $34,577 at ATA College-Cincinnati. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bowling Green State University-Firelands | ATA College-Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,480 | $27,055 |
| Total net cost | $34,960 | $108,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,896 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$44,240 | -$383,880 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Bowling Green State University-Firelands or ATA College-Cincinnati?
Bowling Green State University-Firelands, at $17,480 a year after aid versus $27,055 — a gap of $9,575 a year, or $73,260 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Bowling Green State University-Firelands or ATA College-Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Bowling Green State University-Firelands graduates report a median $47,896 ten years after entry, $13,319 more than the $34,577 at ATA College-Cincinnati. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Bowling Green State University-Firelands or ATA College-Cincinnati?
ATA College-Cincinnati: its completers carry a median $21,030 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Bowling Green State University-Firelands, a difference of $3,970. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
63% of students finish at ATA College-Cincinnati, against 11% at Bowling Green State University-Firelands. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.