Head-to-head comparison
Universal Technical Institute-South Florida Miramar vs National Aviation Academy of Tampa Bay: which has better ROI?
Option A Miramar, FL
Universal Technical Institute-South Florida Miramar
- Net price / year
- $28,759
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,873
- Payback
- 12.7 yrs
Option B Clearwater, FL
National Aviation Academy of Tampa Bay
- Net price / year
- $27,476
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,029
- Payback
- 10.3 yrs
National Aviation Academy of Tampa Bay has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $109,904 in 10.3 years versus 12.7 years at Universal Technical Institute-South Florida Miramar, on median earnings of $59,029 vs $52,873 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Universal Technical Institute-South Florida Miramar | National Aviation Academy of Tampa Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,759 | $27,476 |
| Total net cost | $57,518 | $109,904 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,873 | $59,029 |
| Median debt | $13,124 | $22,000 |
| Payback | 12.7 yrs | 10.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $32,742 | $103,476 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Universal Technical Institute-South Florida Miramar or National Aviation Academy of Tampa Bay?
National Aviation Academy of Tampa Bay, at $27,476 a year after aid versus $28,759 — a gap of $1,283 a year, or $52,386 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-South Florida Miramar or National Aviation Academy of Tampa Bay graduates earn more?
National Aviation Academy of Tampa Bay graduates report a median $59,029 ten years after entry, $6,156 more than the $52,873 at Universal Technical Institute-South Florida Miramar. 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-South Florida Miramar or National Aviation Academy of Tampa Bay?
Universal Technical Institute-South Florida Miramar: its completers carry a median $13,124 in federal loans versus $22,000 at National Aviation Academy of Tampa Bay, a difference of $8,876. 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?
76% of students finish at National Aviation Academy of Tampa Bay, against 70% at Universal Technical Institute-South Florida Miramar. 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.