Head-to-head comparison
Allegany College of Maryland vs Hair Academy II: which has better ROI?
Option A Cumberland, MD
Allegany College of Maryland
- Net price / year
- $8,819
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,476
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Hillcrest Heights, MD
Hair Academy II
- Net price / year
- $23,444
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,383
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Hair Academy II comes closer — median earnings $43,383 against a $93,776 total, vs $38,476 at Allegany College of Maryland. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Allegany College of Maryland | Hair Academy II |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,819 | $23,444 |
| Total net cost | $17,638 | $93,776 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,476 | $43,383 |
| Median debt | $13,702 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$215,318 | -$193,316 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Allegany College of Maryland or Hair Academy II?
Allegany College of Maryland, at $8,819 a year after aid versus $23,444 — a gap of $14,625 a year, or $76,138 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 Allegany College of Maryland or Hair Academy II graduates earn more?
Hair Academy II graduates report a median $43,383 ten years after entry, $4,907 more than the $38,476 at Allegany College of Maryland. 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, Allegany College of Maryland or Hair Academy II?
Hair Academy II: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $13,702 at Allegany College of Maryland, a difference of $7,369. 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?
55% of students finish at Hair Academy II, against 40% at Allegany College of Maryland. 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.