Head-to-head comparison
Florida Institute of Technology vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Option A Melbourne, FL
Florida Institute of Technology
- Net price / year
- $35,639
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,137
- 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 Florida Institute of Technology comes closer — median earnings $43,137 against a $142,556 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Florida Institute of Technology | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $35,639 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $142,556 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,137 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$247,016 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Florida Institute of Technology or ATA Career Education?
ATA Career Education, at $28,250 a year after aid versus $35,639 — a gap of $7,389 a year, or $29,556 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 Florida Institute of Technology or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
Florida Institute of Technology graduates report a median $43,137 ten years after entry, $8,560 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 leaves students with less debt, Florida Institute of Technology or ATA Career Education?
ATA Career Education: its completers carry a median $21,030 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Florida Institute of Technology, a difference of $5,970. 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?
67% of students finish at ATA Career Education, against 64% at Florida Institute of Technology. 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.