Head-to-head comparison
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science vs Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics: which has better ROI?
Option A Paul Smiths, NY
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science
- Net price / year
- $26,683
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,145
- 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 Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science comes closer — median earnings $46,145 against a $106,732 total, vs $40,826 at Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science | Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $26,683 | $16,070 |
| Total net cost | $106,732 | $64,280 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,145 | $40,826 |
| Median debt | $22,750 | $5,846 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$151,032 | -$214,960 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics?
Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics, at $16,070 a year after aid versus $26,683 — a gap of $10,613 a year, or $42,452 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 Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics graduates earn more?
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science graduates report a median $46,145 ten years after entry, $5,319 more than the $40,826 at Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics. 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, Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science or Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics?
Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics: its completers carry a median $5,846 in federal loans versus $22,750 at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science, a difference of $16,904. 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 51% at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science. 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.