Head-to-head comparison
Ohio Technical College vs ATA College-Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Option A Cleveland, OH
Ohio Technical College
- Net price / year
- $34,972
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,450
- Payback
- 1554.3 yrs
Option B Cincinnati, OH
ATA College-Cincinnati
- Net price / year
- $27,055
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,577
- Payback
- No payback
Ohio Technical College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $139,888 in 1554.3 years versus not at all at ATA College-Cincinnati, on median earnings of $48,450 vs $34,577 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ohio Technical College | ATA College-Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,972 | $27,055 |
| Total net cost | $139,888 | $108,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,450 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $21,030 |
| Payback | 1554.3 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | -$138,088 | -$383,880 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Ohio Technical College or ATA College-Cincinnati?
ATA College-Cincinnati, at $27,055 a year after aid versus $34,972 — a gap of $7,917 a year, or $31,668 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 Ohio Technical College or ATA College-Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Ohio Technical College graduates report a median $48,450 ten years after entry, $13,873 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, Ohio Technical College or ATA College-Cincinnati?
Ohio Technical College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA College-Cincinnati, a difference of $9,030. 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?
90% of students finish at Ohio Technical College, against 63% at ATA College-Cincinnati. 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.