Orange County Community College vs American Musical and Dramatic Academy: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Orange County Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,117 against a $13,588 total, vs $26,975 at American Musical and Dramatic Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Orange County Community College | American Musical and Dramatic Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,794 | $41,416 |
| Total net cost | $13,588 | $165,664 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,117 | $26,975 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $15,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$98,448 | -$593,364 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Orange County Community College or American Musical and Dramatic Academy?
Orange County Community College, at $6,794 a year after aid versus $41,416 — a gap of $34,622 a year, or $152,076 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Orange County Community College or American Musical and Dramatic Academy graduates earn more?
Orange County Community College graduates report a median $44,117 ten years after entry, $17,142 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, Orange County Community College or American Musical and Dramatic Academy?
Orange County Community College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $15,250 at American Musical and Dramatic Academy, a difference of $3,250. 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 25% at Orange County 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.