Baker College vs Empire Beauty School-Michigan: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Baker College comes closer — median earnings $35,833 against a $52,628 total, vs $22,377 at Empire Beauty School-Michigan. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Baker College | Empire Beauty School-Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,157 | $17,021 |
| Total net cost | $52,628 | $68,084 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,833 | $22,377 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $10,667 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$303,168 | -$587,744 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Baker College or Empire Beauty School-Michigan?
Baker College, at $13,157 a year after aid versus $17,021 — a gap of $3,864 a year, or $15,456 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Baker College or Empire Beauty School-Michigan graduates earn more?
Baker College graduates report a median $35,833 ten years after entry, $13,456 more than the $22,377 at Empire Beauty School-Michigan. 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, Baker College or Empire Beauty School-Michigan?
Empire Beauty School-Michigan: its completers carry a median $10,667 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Baker College, a difference of $14,333. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at Empire Beauty School-Michigan, against 36% at Baker 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.