Head-to-head comparison
Fulton-Montgomery Community College vs Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York: which has better ROI?
Option A Johnstown, NY
Fulton-Montgomery Community College
- Net price / year
- $6,696
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,535
- Payback
- No payback
Option B New York, NY
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York
- Net price / year
- $21,623
- Earnings, 10 years
- $28,013
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Fulton-Montgomery Community College comes closer — median earnings $39,535 against a $13,392 total, vs $28,013 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Fulton-Montgomery Community College | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,696 | $21,623 |
| Total net cost | $13,392 | $86,492 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,535 | $28,013 |
| Median debt | $12,125 | $6,129 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$189,892 | -$493,432 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Fulton-Montgomery Community College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York?
Fulton-Montgomery Community College, at $6,696 a year after aid versus $21,623 — a gap of $14,927 a year, or $73,100 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 Fulton-Montgomery Community College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York graduates earn more?
Fulton-Montgomery Community College graduates report a median $39,535 ten years after entry, $11,522 more than the $28,013 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York. 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, Fulton-Montgomery Community College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York?
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York: its completers carry a median $6,129 in federal loans versus $12,125 at Fulton-Montgomery Community College, a difference of $5,996. 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?
80% of students finish at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York, against 40% at Fulton-Montgomery 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.