Head-to-head comparison
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Option A Bradenton, FL
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota
- Net price / year
- $22,356
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,318
- 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 State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota comes closer — median earnings $40,318 against a $44,712 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,356 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $44,712 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,318 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $9,000 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$205,552 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota or ATA Career Education?
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota, at $22,356 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $5,894 a year, or $68,288 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 State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota graduates report a median $40,318 ten years after entry, $5,741 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, State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota or ATA Career Education?
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota: its completers carry a median $9,000 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA Career Education, a difference of $12,030. 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?
67% of students finish at ATA Career Education, against 38% at State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota. 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.