Head-to-head comparison
Heidelberg University vs ATA College-Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Option A Tiffin, OH
Heidelberg University
- Net price / year
- $20,556
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,466
- Payback
- 775.7 yrs
Option B Cincinnati, OH
ATA College-Cincinnati
- Net price / year
- $27,055
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,577
- Payback
- No payback
Heidelberg University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $82,224 in 775.7 years versus not at all at ATA College-Cincinnati, on median earnings of $48,466 vs $34,577 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Heidelberg University | ATA College-Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,556 | $27,055 |
| Total net cost | $82,224 | $108,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,466 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $21,030 |
| Payback | 775.7 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | -$80,104 | -$383,880 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Heidelberg University or ATA College-Cincinnati?
Heidelberg University, at $20,556 a year after aid versus $27,055 — a gap of $6,499 a year, or $25,996 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 Heidelberg University or ATA College-Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Heidelberg University graduates report a median $48,466 ten years after entry, $13,889 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, Heidelberg University or ATA College-Cincinnati?
ATA College-Cincinnati: its completers carry a median $21,030 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Heidelberg University, 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?
63% of students finish at ATA College-Cincinnati, against 52% at Heidelberg 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.