Head-to-head comparison
William T McFatter Technical College vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Option A Davie, FL
William T McFatter Technical College
- Net price / year
- $11,901
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,656
- 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 William T McFatter Technical College comes closer — median earnings $41,656 against a $47,604 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | William T McFatter Technical College | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,901 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $47,604 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,656 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | — | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$181,684 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, William T McFatter Technical College or ATA Career Education?
William T McFatter Technical College, at $11,901 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $16,349 a year, or $65,396 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 William T McFatter Technical College or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
William T McFatter Technical College graduates report a median $41,656 ten years after entry, $7,079 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 graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at ATA Career Education, against 66% at William T McFatter 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.