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ATA College
El Cajon, California · Private for-profit career college
Address: 1810 Gillespie Way, Suite 104, El Cajon, CA 92020 · Phone: (619) 596-2766 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Sanction on record, since lifted — Jun 2025 · Warning or Equivalent-Factors Affecting Academic Quality · Council on Occupational Education; Sep 2025 · Accreditation Reaffirmed: Warning Removed. 5 sanction actions in the window.
ATA College is a private for-profit trade school in El Cajon, California, offering medical assistant and HVAC programs, accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
ATA College has an 89.5% completion rate versus a 64.2% state average, with median graduate debt of $5,500 and median earnings of $35,017 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance at ATA College is $26,134, and the school participates in federal Title IV aid; 86.3% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical assistants | $39,290 | $49,660 | $61,870 |
| HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $46,950 | $72,560 | $90,780 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in California (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 19 | $24,739 | $24,140 | $5,500 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Certificate, 1–2 years | 10 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 6 | not reported | not reported | $6,245 |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
ATA College is a private for-profit trade and career campus located in El Cajon, California, in a large suburban setting. It is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education and participates in federal Title IV financial aid programs, meaning students may use FAFSA-based aid such as Pell Grants to help cover costs. The campus offers 3 programs across two program families, with medical assistant programs (25 completers) and HVAC schools (10 completers) making up its top offerings.
According to federal data, ATA College's completion rate is 89.5%, above the state average of 64.2%. Graduates carry a median debt of $5,500, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $35,017. Annual cost of attendance is reported at $26,134, and 86.3% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a student population with substantial financial need.
With a small enrollment of 80 students and 35 trade program completers, this campus may suit those pursuing short, focused training in medical assisting or HVAC work rather than multi-year associate degrees. Whether this fits an adult changing careers depends on program length and schedule details not reported here — contact the school directly to confirm. Prospective students should verify accreditation status and outcomes through the Council on Occupational Education and the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
ATA College offers 3 programs across two families, with medical assistant programs (25 completers) and HVAC schools (10 completers) as its top offerings.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, ATA College is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, and its accreditation status is listed as accredited.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, ATA College participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, and 86.3% of its students receive Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 89.5%, above the California state average of 64.2%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt for graduates is reported at $5,500.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $35,017, per federal Scorecard data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
The reported annual cost of attendance is $26,134.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
ATA College is a private for-profit school; for-profit status can affect tuition pricing and institutional funding sources compared to public or non-profit schools.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (619) 596-2766 or visit atacollege.edu to confirm.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation through the Council on Occupational Education and review federal outcome data at the College Scorecard link: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?444361.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
Program length and schedule details needed to assess career-changer fit are not reported here; contact the school directly for this information.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing and certification requirements are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school for program-specific details.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach ATA College at (619) 596-2766 or through its website, atacollege.edu.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with nearby schools is not reported in federal data; use the College Scorecard to compare campuses directly.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.