SUNY College at Potsdam vs American Musical and Dramatic Academy: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but SUNY College at Potsdam comes closer — median earnings $47,866 against a $54,496 total, vs $26,975 at American Musical and Dramatic Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | SUNY College at Potsdam | American Musical and Dramatic Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,624 | $41,416 |
| Total net cost | $54,496 | $165,664 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,866 | $26,975 |
| Median debt | $24,250 | $15,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$64,376 | -$593,364 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, SUNY College at Potsdam or American Musical and Dramatic Academy?
SUNY College at Potsdam, at $13,624 a year after aid versus $41,416 — a gap of $27,792 a year, or $111,168 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do SUNY College at Potsdam or American Musical and Dramatic Academy graduates earn more?
SUNY College at Potsdam graduates report a median $47,866 ten years after entry, $20,891 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, SUNY College at Potsdam or American Musical and Dramatic Academy?
American Musical and Dramatic Academy: its completers carry a median $15,250 in federal loans versus $24,250 at SUNY College at Potsdam, a difference of $9,000. 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 45% at SUNY College at Potsdam. 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.