Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at ATA Career Education

ATA Career Education charges more than double what Florida nursing students typically pay—$43,416 versus a state median of $25,749—yet their graduates earn below both state and national averages. At $64,478 in the first year, earnings fall just shy of Florida's median and trail the national benchmark by $4,000. More troubling, income doesn't grow with experience; it actually drops 5% by year four, suggesting graduates struggle to advance or maintain early positions.

With 92% of students receiving Pell grants, this debt burden hits families who can least afford it. The 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't disastrous—graduates can technically manage payments—but compare this to nearby alternatives like Broward College or Valencia College, where students graduate with less debt and earn $8,000-$9,000 more annually. Those programs deliver better outcomes for far less upfront cost.

Florida has 73 nursing programs to choose from. If your child is set on becoming a nurse, prioritize the public community colleges or lower-cost options that consistently place graduates in higher-paying positions. ATA's pricing simply doesn't align with the earning power it provides, especially when you're borrowing to cover costs that could be cut in half elsewhere.