Head-to-head comparison
Clark Atlanta University vs Athens Technical College: which has better ROI?
Option A Atlanta, GA
Clark Atlanta University
- Net price / year
- $37,702
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,712
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Athens, GA
Athens Technical College
- Net price / year
- $6,949
- Earnings, 10 years
- $35,951
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Clark Atlanta University comes closer — median earnings $42,712 against a $150,808 total, vs $35,951 at Athens Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Clark Atlanta University | Athens Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $37,702 | $6,949 |
| Total net cost | $150,808 | $27,796 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,712 | $35,951 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$263,768 | -$275,976 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Clark Atlanta University or Athens Technical College?
Athens Technical College, at $6,949 a year after aid versus $37,702 — a gap of $30,753 a year, or $123,012 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 Clark Atlanta University or Athens Technical College graduates earn more?
Clark Atlanta University graduates report a median $42,712 ten years after entry, $6,761 more than the $35,951 at Athens Technical College. 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 graduates more of its students?
51% of students finish at Athens Technical College, against 49% at Clark Atlanta University. 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.