Head-to-head comparison
Universal Technical Institute-Orlando vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Option A Orlando, FL
Universal Technical Institute-Orlando
- Net price / year
- $25,003
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,341
- 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 Universal Technical Institute-Orlando comes closer — median earnings $48,341 against a $50,006 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Universal Technical Institute-Orlando | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,003 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $50,006 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,341 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $13,097 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$50,386 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Universal Technical Institute-Orlando or ATA Career Education?
Universal Technical Institute-Orlando, at $25,003 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $3,247 a year, or $62,994 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 Universal Technical Institute-Orlando or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
Universal Technical Institute-Orlando graduates report a median $48,341 ten years after entry, $13,764 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, Universal Technical Institute-Orlando or ATA Career Education?
Universal Technical Institute-Orlando: its completers carry a median $13,097 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA Career Education, a difference of $7,933. 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?
68% of students finish at Universal Technical Institute-Orlando, 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.