Head-to-head comparison
University of Akron Main Campus vs ATA College-Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Option A Akron, OH
University of Akron Main Campus
- Net price / year
- $13,946
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,600
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Cincinnati, OH
ATA College-Cincinnati
- Net price / year
- $27,055
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,577
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Akron Main Campus comes closer — median earnings $46,600 against a $55,784 total, vs $34,577 at ATA College-Cincinnati. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Akron Main Campus | ATA College-Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,946 | $27,055 |
| Total net cost | $55,784 | $108,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,600 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$90,984 | -$383,880 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Akron Main Campus or ATA College-Cincinnati?
University of Akron Main Campus, at $13,946 a year after aid versus $27,055 — a gap of $13,109 a year, or $52,436 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 University of Akron Main Campus or ATA College-Cincinnati graduates earn more?
University of Akron Main Campus graduates report a median $46,600 ten years after entry, $12,023 more than the $34,577 at ATA College-Cincinnati. 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, University of Akron Main Campus or ATA College-Cincinnati?
ATA College-Cincinnati: its completers carry a median $21,030 in federal loans versus $23,250 at University of Akron Main Campus, a difference of $2,220. 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?
63% of students finish at ATA College-Cincinnati, against 52% at University of Akron Main Campus. 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.