Head-to-head comparison
Fortis College-Indianapolis vs Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis: which has better ROI?
Option A Indianapolis, IN
Fortis College-Indianapolis
- Net price / year
- $27,706
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,726
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Indianapolis, IN
Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis
- Net price / year
- $17,213
- Earnings, 10 years
- $24,397
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Fortis College-Indianapolis comes closer — median earnings $34,726 against a $110,824 total, vs $24,397 at Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Fortis College-Indianapolis | Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,706 | $17,213 |
| Total net cost | $110,824 | $68,852 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,726 | $24,397 |
| Median debt | $13,000 | $10,667 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$383,504 | -$548,112 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Fortis College-Indianapolis or Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis?
Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis, at $17,213 a year after aid versus $27,706 — a gap of $10,493 a year, or $41,972 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 Fortis College-Indianapolis or Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis graduates earn more?
Fortis College-Indianapolis graduates report a median $34,726 ten years after entry, $10,329 more than the $24,397 at Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis. 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, Fortis College-Indianapolis or Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis?
Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis: its completers carry a median $10,667 in federal loans versus $13,000 at Fortis College-Indianapolis, a difference of $2,333. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.