White Mountains Community College vs Empire Beauty School-Hooksett: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but White Mountains Community College comes closer — median earnings $35,037 against a $61,896 total, vs $33,546 at Empire Beauty School-Hooksett. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | White Mountains Community College | Empire Beauty School-Hooksett |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,474 | $10,549 |
| Total net cost | $61,896 | $42,196 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,037 | $33,546 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $7,942 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$328,356 | -$338,476 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, White Mountains Community College or Empire Beauty School-Hooksett?
Empire Beauty School-Hooksett, at $10,549 a year after aid versus $15,474 — a gap of $4,925 a year, or $19,700 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do White Mountains Community College or Empire Beauty School-Hooksett graduates earn more?
White Mountains Community College graduates report a median $35,037 ten years after entry, $1,491 more than the $33,546 at Empire Beauty School-Hooksett. 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, White Mountains Community College or Empire Beauty School-Hooksett?
Empire Beauty School-Hooksett: its completers carry a median $7,942 in federal loans versus $11,000 at White Mountains Community College, a difference of $3,058. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
83% of students finish at Empire Beauty School-Hooksett, against 62% at White Mountains Community 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.