Head-to-head comparison
Tulsa Welding School-Jacksonville vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Option A Jacksonville, FL
Tulsa Welding School-Jacksonville
- Net price / year
- $34,714
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,067
- 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 Tulsa Welding School-Jacksonville comes closer — median earnings $41,067 against a $138,856 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Tulsa Welding School-Jacksonville | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,714 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $138,856 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,067 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$284,716 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Tulsa Welding School-Jacksonville or ATA Career Education?
ATA Career Education, at $28,250 a year after aid versus $34,714 — a gap of $6,464 a year, or $25,856 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 Tulsa Welding School-Jacksonville or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
Tulsa Welding School-Jacksonville graduates report a median $41,067 ten years after entry, $6,490 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, Tulsa Welding School-Jacksonville or ATA Career Education?
Tulsa Welding School-Jacksonville: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA Career Education, a difference of $11,530. 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?
72% of students finish at Tulsa Welding School-Jacksonville, 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.