Culinary Institute of America vs Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Culinary Institute of America comes closer — median earnings $47,475 against a $72,226 total, vs $40,826 at Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Culinary Institute of America | Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $36,113 | $16,070 |
| Total net cost | $72,226 | $64,280 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,475 | $40,826 |
| Median debt | $15,750 | $5,846 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$89,926 | -$214,960 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Culinary Institute of America or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics?
Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics, at $16,070 a year after aid versus $36,113 — a gap of $20,043 a year, or $7,946 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Culinary Institute of America or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics graduates earn more?
Culinary Institute of America graduates report a median $47,475 ten years after entry, $6,649 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, Culinary Institute of America or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics?
Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics: its completers carry a median $5,846 in federal loans versus $15,750 at Culinary Institute of America, a difference of $9,904. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
63% of students finish at Culinary Institute of America, against 57% at Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics. 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.