Ringling College of Art and Design vs Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy-Tampa: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Ringling College of Art and Design comes closer — median earnings $43,325 against a $230,968 total, vs $20,948 at Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy-Tampa. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ringling College of Art and Design | Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy-Tampa |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $57,742 | $14,277 |
| Total net cost | $230,968 | $57,108 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,325 | $20,948 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$331,668 | -$605,348 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Ringling College of Art and Design or Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy-Tampa?
Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy-Tampa, at $14,277 a year after aid versus $57,742 — a gap of $43,465 a year, or $173,860 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Ringling College of Art and Design or Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy-Tampa graduates earn more?
Ringling College of Art and Design graduates report a median $43,325 ten years after entry, $22,377 more than the $20,948 at Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy-Tampa. 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, Ringling College of Art and Design or Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy-Tampa?
Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy-Tampa: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Ringling College of Art and Design, a difference of $20,667. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
77% of students finish at Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy-Tampa, against 72% at Ringling College of Art and Design. 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.