American Musical and Dramatic Academy vs Empire Beauty School-Manhattan: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Empire Beauty School-Manhattan comes closer — median earnings $24,022 against a $75,568 total, vs $26,975 at American Musical and Dramatic Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Musical and Dramatic Academy | Empire Beauty School-Manhattan |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $41,416 | $18,892 |
| Total net cost | $165,664 | $75,568 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $26,975 | $24,022 |
| Median debt | $15,250 | $10,667 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$593,364 | -$562,328 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American Musical and Dramatic Academy or Empire Beauty School-Manhattan?
Empire Beauty School-Manhattan, at $18,892 a year after aid versus $41,416 — a gap of $22,524 a year, or $90,096 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 Musical and Dramatic Academy or Empire Beauty School-Manhattan graduates earn more?
American Musical and Dramatic Academy graduates report a median $26,975 ten years after entry, $2,953 more than the $24,022 at Empire Beauty School-Manhattan. 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 Musical and Dramatic Academy or Empire Beauty School-Manhattan?
Empire Beauty School-Manhattan: its completers carry a median $10,667 in federal loans versus $15,250 at American Musical and Dramatic Academy, a difference of $4,583. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
72% of students finish at American Musical and Dramatic Academy, against 51% at Empire Beauty School-Manhattan. 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.