Head-to-head comparison
American Institute-Toms River vs Total Image Beauty Academy: which has better ROI?
Option A Toms River, NJ
American Institute-Toms River
- Net price / year
- $19,781
- Earnings, 10 years
- $28,710
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Union City, NJ
Total Image Beauty Academy
- Net price / year
- $12,830
- Earnings, 10 years
- $18,720
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but American Institute-Toms River comes closer — median earnings $28,710 against a $79,124 total, vs $18,720 at Total Image Beauty Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Institute-Toms River | Total Image Beauty Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,781 | $12,830 |
| Total net cost | $79,124 | $51,320 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $28,710 | $18,720 |
| Median debt | $11,979 | $8,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$472,124 | -$644,120 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, American Institute-Toms River or Total Image Beauty Academy?
Total Image Beauty Academy, at $12,830 a year after aid versus $19,781 — a gap of $6,951 a year, or $27,804 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 American Institute-Toms River or Total Image Beauty Academy graduates earn more?
American Institute-Toms River graduates report a median $28,710 ten years after entry, $9,990 more than the $18,720 at Total Image Beauty 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, American Institute-Toms River or Total Image Beauty Academy?
Total Image Beauty Academy: its completers carry a median $8,500 in federal loans versus $11,979 at American Institute-Toms River, a difference of $3,479. 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?
99% of students finish at Total Image Beauty Academy, against 55% at American Institute-Toms River. 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.