Head-to-head comparison
Southeastern University vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Option A Lakeland, FL
Southeastern University
- Net price / year
- $31,942
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,744
- 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 Southeastern University comes closer — median earnings $46,744 against a $127,768 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southeastern University | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,942 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $127,768 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,744 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $21,500 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$160,088 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Southeastern University or ATA Career Education?
ATA Career Education, at $28,250 a year after aid versus $31,942 — a gap of $3,692 a year, or $14,768 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 Southeastern University or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
Southeastern University graduates report a median $46,744 ten years after entry, $12,167 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, Southeastern University or ATA Career Education?
ATA Career Education: its completers carry a median $21,030 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Southeastern University, a difference of $470. 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 43% at Southeastern 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.