Head-to-head comparison
Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus vs Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics: which has better ROI?
Option A Albany, NY
Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus
- Net price / year
- $24,241
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,830
- Payback
- No payback
Option B New York, NY
Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics
- Net price / year
- $16,070
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,826
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics comes closer — median earnings $40,826 against a $64,280 total, vs $38,830 at Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus | Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,241 | $16,070 |
| Total net cost | $96,964 | $64,280 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,830 | $40,826 |
| Median debt | $19,000 | $5,846 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$287,564 | -$214,960 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics?
Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics, at $16,070 a year after aid versus $24,241 — a gap of $8,171 a year, or $32,684 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 Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics graduates earn more?
Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics graduates report a median $40,826 ten years after entry, $1,996 more than the $38,830 at Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus. 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, Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics?
Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics: its completers carry a median $5,846 in federal loans versus $19,000 at Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus, a difference of $13,154. 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?
57% of students finish at Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics, against 37% at Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus. 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.