American Musical and Dramatic Academy vs Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus comes closer — median earnings $38,830 against a $96,964 total, vs $26,975 at American Musical and Dramatic Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Musical and Dramatic Academy | Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $41,416 | $24,241 |
| Total net cost | $165,664 | $96,964 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $26,975 | $38,830 |
| Median debt | $15,250 | $19,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$593,364 | -$287,564 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American Musical and Dramatic Academy or Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus?
Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus, at $24,241 a year after aid versus $41,416 — a gap of $17,175 a year, or $68,700 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 Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus graduates earn more?
Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus graduates report a median $38,830 ten years after entry, $11,855 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 Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus?
American Musical and Dramatic Academy: its completers carry a median $15,250 in federal loans versus $19,000 at Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus, a difference of $3,750. 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 37% at Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus. 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.