Head-to-head comparison
Albany Technical College vs Empire Beauty School-Morrow: which has better ROI?
Option A Albany, GA
Albany Technical College
- Net price / year
- $4,524
- Earnings, 10 years
- $30,541
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Morrow, GA
Empire Beauty School-Morrow
- Net price / year
- $16,962
- Earnings, 10 years
- $24,397
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Albany Technical College comes closer — median earnings $30,541 against a $18,096 total, vs $24,397 at Empire Beauty School-Morrow. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Albany Technical College | Empire Beauty School-Morrow |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,524 | $16,962 |
| Total net cost | $18,096 | $67,848 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $30,541 | $24,397 |
| Median debt | $12,412 | $10,667 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$374,476 | -$547,108 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Albany Technical College or Empire Beauty School-Morrow?
Albany Technical College, at $4,524 a year after aid versus $16,962 — a gap of $12,438 a year, or $49,752 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Albany Technical College or Empire Beauty School-Morrow graduates earn more?
Albany Technical College graduates report a median $30,541 ten years after entry, $6,144 more than the $24,397 at Empire Beauty School-Morrow. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Albany Technical College or Empire Beauty School-Morrow?
Empire Beauty School-Morrow: its completers carry a median $10,667 in federal loans versus $12,412 at Albany Technical College, a difference of $1,745. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
42% of students finish at Albany Technical College, against 29% at Empire Beauty School-Morrow. 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.