Head-to-head comparison
Sheridan Technical College vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Option A Hollywood, FL
Sheridan Technical College
- Net price / year
- $6,677
- Earnings, 10 years
- $33,166
- 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 Sheridan Technical College comes closer — median earnings $33,166 against a $26,708 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Sheridan Technical College | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,677 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $26,708 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,166 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | — | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$330,588 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Sheridan Technical College or ATA Career Education?
Sheridan Technical College, at $6,677 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $21,573 a year, or $86,292 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 Sheridan Technical College or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
ATA Career Education graduates report a median $34,577 ten years after entry, $1,411 more than the $33,166 at Sheridan 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?
69% of students finish at Sheridan 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.