American Musical and Dramatic Academy vs Lincoln Technical Institute-Whitestone: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lincoln Technical Institute-Whitestone comes closer — median earnings $46,396 against a $136,512 total, vs $26,975 at American Musical and Dramatic Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Musical and Dramatic Academy | Lincoln Technical Institute-Whitestone |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $41,416 | $34,128 |
| Total net cost | $165,664 | $136,512 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $26,975 | $46,396 |
| Median debt | $15,250 | $11,730 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$593,364 | -$175,792 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American Musical and Dramatic Academy or Lincoln Technical Institute-Whitestone?
Lincoln Technical Institute-Whitestone, at $34,128 a year after aid versus $41,416 — a gap of $7,288 a year, or $29,152 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 Lincoln Technical Institute-Whitestone graduates earn more?
Lincoln Technical Institute-Whitestone graduates report a median $46,396 ten years after entry, $19,421 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 Lincoln Technical Institute-Whitestone?
Lincoln Technical Institute-Whitestone: its completers carry a median $11,730 in federal loans versus $15,250 at American Musical and Dramatic Academy, a difference of $3,520. 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 67% at Lincoln Technical Institute-Whitestone. 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.