Head-to-head comparison
Dutchess Community College vs American Musical and Dramatic Academy: which has better ROI?
Option A Poughkeepsie, NY
Dutchess Community College
- Net price / year
- $10,065
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,929
- Payback
- No payback
Option B New York, NY
American Musical and Dramatic Academy
- Net price / year
- $41,416
- Earnings, 10 years
- $26,975
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Dutchess Community College comes closer — median earnings $43,929 against a $20,130 total, vs $26,975 at American Musical and Dramatic Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Dutchess Community College | American Musical and Dramatic Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,065 | $41,416 |
| Total net cost | $20,130 | $165,664 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,929 | $26,975 |
| Median debt | $10,039 | $15,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$108,750 | -$593,364 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Dutchess Community College or American Musical and Dramatic Academy?
Dutchess Community College, at $10,065 a year after aid versus $41,416 — a gap of $31,351 a year, or $145,534 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 Dutchess Community College or American Musical and Dramatic Academy graduates earn more?
Dutchess Community College graduates report a median $43,929 ten years after entry, $16,954 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, Dutchess Community College or American Musical and Dramatic Academy?
Dutchess Community College: its completers carry a median $10,039 in federal loans versus $15,250 at American Musical and Dramatic Academy, a difference of $5,211. 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 30% at Dutchess Community 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.