Head-to-head comparison
Erwin Technical College vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Option A Tampa, FL
Erwin Technical College
- Net price / year
- $2,796
- Earnings, 10 years
- $37,966
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Spring Hill, FL
ATA Career Education
- Net price / year
- $28,250
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,577
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Erwin Technical College comes closer — median earnings $37,966 against a $11,184 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Erwin Technical College | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $2,796 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $11,184 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,966 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | — | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$219,064 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Erwin Technical College or ATA Career Education?
Erwin Technical College, at $2,796 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $25,454 a year, or $101,816 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 Erwin Technical College or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
Erwin Technical College graduates report a median $37,966 ten years after entry, $3,389 more than the $34,577 at ATA Career Education. 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?
80% of students finish at Erwin Technical College, against 67% at ATA Career Education. 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.