Bard College vs American Musical and Dramatic Academy: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bard College comes closer — median earnings $46,543 against a $138,596 total, vs $26,975 at American Musical and Dramatic Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bard College | American Musical and Dramatic Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,649 | $41,416 |
| Total net cost | $138,596 | $165,664 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,543 | $26,975 |
| Median debt | $24,254 | $15,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$174,936 | -$593,364 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bard College or American Musical and Dramatic Academy?
Bard College, at $34,649 a year after aid versus $41,416 — a gap of $6,767 a year, or $27,068 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Bard College or American Musical and Dramatic Academy graduates earn more?
Bard College graduates report a median $46,543 ten years after entry, $19,568 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, Bard College or American Musical and Dramatic Academy?
American Musical and Dramatic Academy: its completers carry a median $15,250 in federal loans versus $24,254 at Bard College, a difference of $9,004. 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 68% at Bard 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.