American Musical and Dramatic Academy vs Hilbert College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Hilbert College comes closer — median earnings $48,309 against a $90,892 total, vs $26,975 at American Musical and Dramatic Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Musical and Dramatic Academy | Hilbert College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $41,416 | $22,723 |
| Total net cost | $165,664 | $90,892 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $26,975 | $48,309 |
| Median debt | $15,250 | $24,750 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$593,364 | -$91,912 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American Musical and Dramatic Academy or Hilbert College?
Hilbert College, at $22,723 a year after aid versus $41,416 — a gap of $18,693 a year, or $74,772 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 Hilbert College graduates earn more?
Hilbert College graduates report a median $48,309 ten years after entry, $21,334 more than the $26,975 at American Musical and Dramatic Academy. 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 Hilbert College?
American Musical and Dramatic Academy: its completers carry a median $15,250 in federal loans versus $24,750 at Hilbert College, a difference of $9,500. 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 56% at Hilbert 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.