CUNY Queensborough Community College vs Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but CUNY Queensborough Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,214 against a $8,916 total, vs $40,826 at Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | CUNY Queensborough Community College | Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,458 | $16,070 |
| Total net cost | $8,916 | $64,280 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,214 | $40,826 |
| Median debt | $8,600 | $5,846 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$91,836 | -$214,960 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, CUNY Queensborough Community College or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics?
CUNY Queensborough Community College, at $4,458 a year after aid versus $16,070 — a gap of $11,612 a year, or $55,364 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do CUNY Queensborough Community College or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics graduates earn more?
CUNY Queensborough Community College graduates report a median $44,214 ten years after entry, $3,388 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, CUNY Queensborough Community College or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics?
Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics: its completers carry a median $5,846 in federal loans versus $8,600 at CUNY Queensborough Community College, a difference of $2,754. 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 24% at CUNY Queensborough 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.