Head-to-head comparison
Fortis College-Cutler Bay vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Option A Cutler Bay, FL
Fortis College-Cutler Bay
- Net price / year
- $22,393
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,726
- 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 Fortis College-Cutler Bay comes closer — median earnings $34,726 against a $44,786 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Fortis College-Cutler Bay | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,393 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $44,786 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,726 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $13,000 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$317,466 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Fortis College-Cutler Bay or ATA Career Education?
Fortis College-Cutler Bay, at $22,393 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $5,857 a year, or $68,214 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 Fortis College-Cutler Bay or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
Fortis College-Cutler Bay graduates report a median $34,726 ten years after entry, $149 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, Fortis College-Cutler Bay or ATA Career Education?
Fortis College-Cutler Bay: its completers carry a median $13,000 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA Career Education, a difference of $8,030. 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 48% at Fortis College-Cutler Bay. 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.