Head-to-head comparison
Muskingum University vs ATA College-Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Option A New Concord, OH
Muskingum University
- Net price / year
- $19,532
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,440
- Payback
- 976.6 yrs
Option B Cincinnati, OH
ATA College-Cincinnati
- Net price / year
- $27,055
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,577
- Payback
- No payback
Muskingum University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $78,128 in 976.6 years versus not at all at ATA College-Cincinnati, on median earnings of $48,440 vs $34,577 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Muskingum University | ATA College-Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,532 | $27,055 |
| Total net cost | $78,128 | $108,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,440 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $25,369 | $21,030 |
| Payback | 976.6 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | -$76,528 | -$383,880 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Muskingum University or ATA College-Cincinnati?
Muskingum University, at $19,532 a year after aid versus $27,055 — a gap of $7,523 a year, or $30,092 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 Muskingum University or ATA College-Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Muskingum University graduates report a median $48,440 ten years after entry, $13,863 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, Muskingum University or ATA College-Cincinnati?
ATA College-Cincinnati: its completers carry a median $21,030 in federal loans versus $25,369 at Muskingum University, a difference of $4,339. 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 56% at Muskingum 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.