Head-to-head comparison
American Musical and Dramatic Academy vs Simon's Rock at Bard College: which has better ROI?
Option A New York, NY
American Musical and Dramatic Academy
- Net price / year
- $41,416
- Earnings, 10 years
- $26,975
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Barrytown, NY
Simon's Rock at Bard College
- Net price / year
- $31,625
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,543
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Simon's Rock at Bard College comes closer — median earnings $46,543 against a $63,250 total, vs $26,975 at American Musical and Dramatic Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Musical and Dramatic Academy | Simon's Rock at Bard College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $41,416 | $31,625 |
| Total net cost | $165,664 | $63,250 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $26,975 | $46,543 |
| Median debt | $15,250 | $24,254 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$593,364 | -$99,590 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, American Musical and Dramatic Academy or Simon's Rock at Bard College?
Simon's Rock at Bard College, at $31,625 a year after aid versus $41,416 — a gap of $9,791 a year, or $102,414 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 Musical and Dramatic Academy or Simon's Rock at Bard College graduates earn more?
Simon's Rock at Bard College graduates report a median $46,543 ten years after entry, $19,568 more than the $26,975 at American Musical and Dramatic 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 Musical and Dramatic Academy or Simon's Rock at Bard College?
American Musical and Dramatic Academy: its completers carry a median $15,250 in federal loans versus $24,254 at Simon's Rock at Bard College, a difference of $9,004. 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?
72% of students finish at American Musical and Dramatic Academy, against 68% at Simon's Rock at Bard 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.