Head-to-head comparison
American Musical and Dramatic Academy vs The Juilliard School: 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 New York, NY
The Juilliard School
- Net price / year
- $43,571
- Earnings, 10 years
- $37,827
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but The Juilliard School comes closer — median earnings $37,827 against a $174,284 total, vs $26,975 at American Musical and Dramatic Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Musical and Dramatic Academy | The Juilliard School |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $41,416 | $43,571 |
| Total net cost | $165,664 | $174,284 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $26,975 | $37,827 |
| Median debt | $15,250 | $25,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$593,364 | -$384,944 |
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 The Juilliard School?
American Musical and Dramatic Academy, at $41,416 a year after aid versus $43,571 — a gap of $2,155 a year, or $8,620 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 The Juilliard School graduates earn more?
The Juilliard School graduates report a median $37,827 ten years after entry, $10,852 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 The Juilliard School?
American Musical and Dramatic Academy: its completers carry a median $15,250 in federal loans versus $25,500 at The Juilliard School, a difference of $10,250. 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?
93% of students finish at The Juilliard School, against 72% at American Musical and Dramatic Academy. 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.