American Musical and Dramatic Academy vs Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science comes closer — median earnings $46,145 against a $106,732 total, vs $26,975 at American Musical and Dramatic Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Musical and Dramatic Academy | Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $41,416 | $26,683 |
| Total net cost | $165,664 | $106,732 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $26,975 | $46,145 |
| Median debt | $15,250 | $22,750 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$593,364 | -$151,032 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American Musical and Dramatic Academy or Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science?
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science, at $26,683 a year after aid versus $41,416 — a gap of $14,733 a year, or $58,932 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 Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science graduates earn more?
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science graduates report a median $46,145 ten years after entry, $19,170 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 Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science?
American Musical and Dramatic Academy: its completers carry a median $15,250 in federal loans versus $22,750 at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science, a difference of $7,500. 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 51% at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science. 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.