School of Visual Arts vs American Musical and Dramatic Academy: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but School of Visual Arts comes closer — median earnings $46,459 against a $231,656 total, vs $26,975 at American Musical and Dramatic Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | School of Visual Arts | American Musical and Dramatic Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $57,914 | $41,416 |
| Total net cost | $231,656 | $165,664 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,459 | $26,975 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $15,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$269,676 | -$593,364 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, School of Visual Arts or American Musical and Dramatic Academy?
American Musical and Dramatic Academy, at $41,416 a year after aid versus $57,914 — a gap of $16,498 a year, or $65,992 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do School of Visual Arts or American Musical and Dramatic Academy graduates earn more?
School of Visual Arts graduates report a median $46,459 ten years after entry, $19,484 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, School of Visual Arts or American Musical and Dramatic Academy?
American Musical and Dramatic Academy: its completers carry a median $15,250 in federal loans versus $27,000 at School of Visual Arts, a difference of $11,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
76% of students finish at School of Visual Arts, against 72% at American Musical and Dramatic Academy. 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.