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Finger Lakes Community College vs Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics: which has better ROI?

Public, Canandaigua NY · vs · Private for-profit, New York NY

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Finger Lakes Community College comes closer — median earnings $40,054 against a $27,796 total, vs $40,826 at Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureFinger Lakes Community CollegeAtelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics
Net price / yr$13,898$16,070
Total net cost$27,796$64,280
Median earnings, 10 yrs$40,054$40,826
Median debt$12,975$5,846
Payback
20-year net return-$193,916-$214,960

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Finger Lakes Community College or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics?

Finger Lakes Community College, at $13,898 a year after aid versus $16,070 — a gap of $2,172 a year, or $36,484 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Finger Lakes Community College or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics graduates earn more?

Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics graduates report a median $40,826 ten years after entry, $772 more than the $40,054 at Finger Lakes Community College. 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, Finger Lakes Community College or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics?

Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics: its completers carry a median $5,846 in federal loans versus $12,975 at Finger Lakes Community College, a difference of $7,129. 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 30% at Finger Lakes 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.

Finger Lakes Community College vs Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics: frequently asked questions

Is Finger Lakes Community College or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics a better value?
Finger Lakes Community College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Finger Lakes Community College or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics?
Finger Lakes Community College: $13,898/yr net price after aid versus $16,070/yr at Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics — a difference of $2,172 a year, or about $36,484 over four years.
Do Finger Lakes Community College or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics graduates earn more?
Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics graduates earn a median $40,826 ten years after entry, versus $40,054 at Finger Lakes Community College — a $772 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.