Head-to-head comparison
Saint Leo University vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Option A Saint Leo, FL
Saint Leo University
- Net price / year
- $21,293
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,364
- Payback
- 21293 yrs
Option B Spring Hill, FL
ATA Career Education
- Net price / year
- $28,250
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,577
- Payback
- No payback
Saint Leo University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $85,172 in 21293 years versus not at all at ATA Career Education, on median earnings of $48,364 vs $34,577 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Saint Leo University | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,293 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $85,172 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,364 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $25,278 | $21,030 |
| Payback | 21293 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | -$85,092 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Saint Leo University or ATA Career Education?
Saint Leo University, at $21,293 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $6,957 a year, or $27,828 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 Saint Leo University or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
Saint Leo University graduates report a median $48,364 ten years after entry, $13,787 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, Saint Leo University or ATA Career Education?
ATA Career Education: its completers carry a median $21,030 in federal loans versus $25,278 at Saint Leo University, a difference of $4,248. 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 45% at Saint Leo 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.