Head-to-head comparison
Ridge Technical College vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Option A Winter Haven, FL
Ridge Technical College
- Net price / year
- $23,170
- Earnings, 10 years
- $33,484
- 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 ATA Career Education comes closer — median earnings $34,577 against a $113,000 total, vs $33,484 at Ridge Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ridge Technical College | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,170 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $92,680 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,484 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | — | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$390,200 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Ridge Technical College or ATA Career Education?
Ridge Technical College, at $23,170 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $5,080 a year, or $20,320 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 Ridge Technical College or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
ATA Career Education graduates report a median $34,577 ten years after entry, $1,093 more than the $33,484 at Ridge Technical College. 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 graduates more of its students?
99% of students finish at Ridge Technical College, against 67% at ATA Career Education. 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.