Nashua Community College vs Empire Beauty School-Hooksett: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Nashua Community College comes closer — median earnings $46,164 against a $46,308 total, vs $33,546 at Empire Beauty School-Hooksett. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Nashua Community College | Empire Beauty School-Hooksett |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,154 | $10,549 |
| Total net cost | $46,308 | $42,196 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,164 | $33,546 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $7,942 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$90,228 | -$338,476 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Nashua Community College or Empire Beauty School-Hooksett?
Empire Beauty School-Hooksett, at $10,549 a year after aid versus $23,154 — a gap of $12,605 a year, or $4,112 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Nashua Community College or Empire Beauty School-Hooksett graduates earn more?
Nashua Community College graduates report a median $46,164 ten years after entry, $12,618 more than the $33,546 at Empire Beauty School-Hooksett. 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, Nashua Community College or Empire Beauty School-Hooksett?
Empire Beauty School-Hooksett: its completers carry a median $7,942 in federal loans versus $11,000 at Nashua Community College, a difference of $3,058. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
83% of students finish at Empire Beauty School-Hooksett, against 38% at Nashua 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.