Head-to-head comparison
Ivy Tech Community College vs Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis: which has better ROI?
Option A Indianapolis, IN
Ivy Tech Community College
- Net price / year
- $7,258
- Earnings, 10 years
- $37,186
- 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 Ivy Tech Community College comes closer — median earnings $37,186 against a $29,032 total, vs $24,397 at Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ivy Tech Community College | Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,258 | $17,213 |
| Total net cost | $29,032 | $68,852 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,186 | $24,397 |
| Median debt | $10,727 | $10,667 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$252,512 | -$548,112 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Ivy Tech Community College or Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis?
Ivy Tech Community College, at $7,258 a year after aid versus $17,213 — a gap of $9,955 a year, or $39,820 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 Ivy Tech Community College or Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis graduates earn more?
Ivy Tech Community College graduates report a median $37,186 ten years after entry, $12,789 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, Ivy Tech Community College or Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis?
Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis: its completers carry a median $10,667 in federal loans versus $10,727 at Ivy Tech Community College, a difference of $60. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.