Empire Beauty School-Manhattan vs Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York comes closer — median earnings $28,013 against a $86,492 total, vs $24,022 at Empire Beauty School-Manhattan. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Empire Beauty School-Manhattan | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,892 | $21,623 |
| Total net cost | $75,568 | $86,492 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $24,022 | $28,013 |
| Median debt | $10,667 | $6,129 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$562,328 | -$493,432 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Empire Beauty School-Manhattan or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York?
Empire Beauty School-Manhattan, at $18,892 a year after aid versus $21,623 — a gap of $2,731 a year, or $10,924 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Empire Beauty School-Manhattan or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York graduates earn more?
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York graduates report a median $28,013 ten years after entry, $3,991 more than the $24,022 at Empire Beauty School-Manhattan. 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, Empire Beauty School-Manhattan or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York?
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York: its completers carry a median $6,129 in federal loans versus $10,667 at Empire Beauty School-Manhattan, a difference of $4,538. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
80% of students finish at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York, against 51% at Empire Beauty School-Manhattan. 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.