Columbia-Greene Community College vs Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Columbia-Greene Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,441 against a $13,118 total, vs $40,826 at Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbia-Greene Community College | Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,559 | $16,070 |
| Total net cost | $13,118 | $64,280 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,441 | $40,826 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $5,846 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$91,498 | -$214,960 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Columbia-Greene Community College or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics?
Columbia-Greene Community College, at $6,559 a year after aid versus $16,070 — a gap of $9,511 a year, or $51,162 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Columbia-Greene Community College or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics graduates earn more?
Columbia-Greene Community College graduates report a median $44,441 ten years after entry, $3,615 more than the $40,826 at Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics. 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, Columbia-Greene Community College or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics?
Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics: its completers carry a median $5,846 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Columbia-Greene Community College, a difference of $6,154. 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 Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics, against 46% at Columbia-Greene Community 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.