American InterContinental University System vs Empire Beauty School-Tucson: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but American InterContinental University System comes closer — median earnings $36,144 against a $60,688 total, vs $25,073 at Empire Beauty School-Tucson. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American InterContinental University System | Empire Beauty School-Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,172 | $17,013 |
| Total net cost | $60,688 | $68,052 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,144 | $25,073 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $13,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$305,008 | -$533,792 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American InterContinental University System or Empire Beauty School-Tucson?
American InterContinental University System, at $15,172 a year after aid versus $17,013 — a gap of $1,841 a year, or $7,364 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do American InterContinental University System or Empire Beauty School-Tucson graduates earn more?
American InterContinental University System graduates report a median $36,144 ten years after entry, $11,071 more than the $25,073 at Empire Beauty School-Tucson. 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, American InterContinental University System or Empire Beauty School-Tucson?
Empire Beauty School-Tucson: its completers carry a median $13,000 in federal loans versus $31,000 at American InterContinental University System, a difference of $18,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
83% of students finish at Empire Beauty School-Tucson, against 9% at American InterContinental University System. 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.