Head-to-head comparison
Strayer University-Virginia vs Advanced Technology Institute: which has better ROI?
Option A Arlington, VA
Strayer University-Virginia
- Net price / year
- $19,578
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,092
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Virginia Beach, VA
Advanced Technology Institute
- Net price / year
- $16,358
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,342
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Advanced Technology Institute comes closer — median earnings $46,342 against a $65,432 total, vs $40,092 at Strayer University-Virginia. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Strayer University-Virginia | Advanced Technology Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,578 | $16,358 |
| Total net cost | $78,312 | $65,432 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,092 | $46,342 |
| Median debt | $40,621 | $14,873 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$243,672 | -$105,792 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Strayer University-Virginia or Advanced Technology Institute?
Advanced Technology Institute, at $16,358 a year after aid versus $19,578 — a gap of $3,220 a year, or $12,880 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 Strayer University-Virginia or Advanced Technology Institute graduates earn more?
Advanced Technology Institute graduates report a median $46,342 ten years after entry, $6,250 more than the $40,092 at Strayer University-Virginia. 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, Strayer University-Virginia or Advanced Technology Institute?
Advanced Technology Institute: its completers carry a median $14,873 in federal loans versus $40,621 at Strayer University-Virginia, a difference of $25,748. 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?
79% of students finish at Advanced Technology Institute, against 36% at Strayer University-Virginia. 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.