Alpena Community College vs Empire Beauty School-Michigan: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Alpena Community College comes closer — median earnings $36,442 against a $6,640 total, vs $22,377 at Empire Beauty School-Michigan. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alpena Community College | Empire Beauty School-Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,320 | $17,021 |
| Total net cost | $6,640 | $68,084 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,442 | $22,377 |
| Median debt | $9,024 | $10,667 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$245,000 | -$587,744 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Alpena Community College or Empire Beauty School-Michigan?
Alpena Community College, at $3,320 a year after aid versus $17,021 — a gap of $13,701 a year, or $61,444 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Alpena Community College or Empire Beauty School-Michigan graduates earn more?
Alpena Community College graduates report a median $36,442 ten years after entry, $14,065 more than the $22,377 at Empire Beauty School-Michigan. 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.
Which leaves students with less debt, Alpena Community College or Empire Beauty School-Michigan?
Alpena Community College: its completers carry a median $9,024 in federal loans versus $10,667 at Empire Beauty School-Michigan, a difference of $1,643. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at Empire Beauty School-Michigan, against 52% at Alpena Community 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.