Head-to-head comparison
Tom P. Haney Technical College vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Option A Panama City, FL
Tom P. Haney Technical College
- Net price / year
- $9,099
- Earnings, 10 years
- $28,254
- 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 ATA Career Education comes closer — median earnings $34,577 against a $113,000 total, vs $28,254 at Tom P. Haney Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Tom P. Haney Technical College | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,099 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $36,396 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $28,254 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | — | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$438,516 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Tom P. Haney Technical College or ATA Career Education?
Tom P. Haney Technical College, at $9,099 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $19,151 a year, or $76,604 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 Tom P. Haney Technical College or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
ATA Career Education graduates report a median $34,577 ten years after entry, $6,323 more than the $28,254 at Tom P. Haney 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?
67% of students finish at ATA Career Education, against 61% at Tom P. Haney Technical College. 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.