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Villa Maria College vs Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics: which has better ROI?

Private nonprofit, Buffalo NY · vs · Private for-profit, New York NY

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics comes closer — median earnings $40,826 against a $64,280 total, vs $38,857 at Villa Maria College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureVilla Maria CollegeAtelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics
Net price / yr$13,494$16,070
Total net cost$53,976$64,280
Median earnings, 10 yrs$38,857$40,826
Median debt$21,250$5,846
Payback
20-year net return-$244,036-$214,960

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Villa Maria College or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics?

Villa Maria College, at $13,494 a year after aid versus $16,070 — a gap of $2,576 a year, or $10,304 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Villa Maria College or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics graduates earn more?

Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics graduates report a median $40,826 ten years after entry, $1,969 more than the $38,857 at Villa Maria College. 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, Villa Maria College or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics?

Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics: its completers carry a median $5,846 in federal loans versus $21,250 at Villa Maria College, a difference of $15,404. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

57% of students finish at Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics, against 31% at Villa Maria 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.

Villa Maria College vs Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics: frequently asked questions

Is Villa Maria College or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics a better value?
Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Villa Maria College or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics?
Villa Maria College: $13,494/yr net price after aid versus $16,070/yr at Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics — a difference of $2,576 a year, or about $10,304 over four years.
Do Villa Maria College or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics graduates earn more?
Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics graduates earn a median $40,826 ten years after entry, versus $38,857 at Villa Maria College — a $1,969 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.