Fortis Institute-Cookeville vs Brillare Beauty Institute: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Fortis Institute-Cookeville comes closer — median earnings $34,509 against a $47,164 total, vs $24,728 at Brillare Beauty Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Fortis Institute-Cookeville | Brillare Beauty Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,582 | $17,894 |
| Total net cost | $47,164 | $71,576 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,509 | $24,728 |
| Median debt | $13,000 | $7,479 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$324,184 | -$544,216 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Fortis Institute-Cookeville or Brillare Beauty Institute?
Brillare Beauty Institute, at $17,894 a year after aid versus $23,582 — a gap of $5,688 a year, or $24,412 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Fortis Institute-Cookeville or Brillare Beauty Institute graduates earn more?
Fortis Institute-Cookeville graduates report a median $34,509 ten years after entry, $9,781 more than the $24,728 at Brillare Beauty Institute. 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, Fortis Institute-Cookeville or Brillare Beauty Institute?
Brillare Beauty Institute: its completers carry a median $7,479 in federal loans versus $13,000 at Fortis Institute-Cookeville, a difference of $5,521. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
84% of students finish at Brillare Beauty Institute, against 50% at Fortis Institute-Cookeville. 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.