SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville vs Brillare Beauty Institute: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville comes closer — median earnings $39,544 against a $98,800 total, vs $24,728 at Brillare Beauty Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville | Brillare Beauty Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,700 | $17,894 |
| Total net cost | $98,800 | $71,576 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,544 | $24,728 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $7,479 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$275,120 | -$544,216 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville or Brillare Beauty Institute?
Brillare Beauty Institute, at $17,894 a year after aid versus $24,700 — a gap of $6,806 a year, or $27,224 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville or Brillare Beauty Institute graduates earn more?
SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville graduates report a median $39,544 ten years after entry, $14,816 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, SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville or Brillare Beauty Institute?
Brillare Beauty Institute: its completers carry a median $7,479 in federal loans versus $9,500 at SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville, a difference of $2,021. 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 42% at SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville. 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.