Erie Community College vs American Musical and Dramatic Academy: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Erie Community College comes closer — median earnings $41,228 against a $15,530 total, vs $26,975 at American Musical and Dramatic Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Erie Community College | American Musical and Dramatic Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,765 | $41,416 |
| Total net cost | $15,530 | $165,664 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,228 | $26,975 |
| Median debt | $9,250 | $15,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$158,170 | -$593,364 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Erie Community College or American Musical and Dramatic Academy?
Erie Community College, at $7,765 a year after aid versus $41,416 — a gap of $33,651 a year, or $150,134 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Erie Community College or American Musical and Dramatic Academy graduates earn more?
Erie Community College graduates report a median $41,228 ten years after entry, $14,253 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, Erie Community College or American Musical and Dramatic Academy?
Erie Community College: its completers carry a median $9,250 in federal loans versus $15,250 at American Musical and Dramatic Academy, a difference of $6,000. 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 28% at Erie 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.