Head-to-head comparison
River Valley Community College vs Empire Beauty School-Hooksett: which has better ROI?
Option A Claremont, NH
River Valley Community College
- Net price / year
- $14,804
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,700
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Hooksett, NH
Empire Beauty School-Hooksett
- Net price / year
- $10,549
- Earnings, 10 years
- $33,546
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but River Valley Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,700 against a $29,608 total, vs $33,546 at Empire Beauty School-Hooksett. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | River Valley Community College | Empire Beauty School-Hooksett |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,804 | $10,549 |
| Total net cost | $29,608 | $42,196 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,700 | $33,546 |
| Median debt | $16,226 | $7,942 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$102,808 | -$338,476 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, River Valley Community College or Empire Beauty School-Hooksett?
Empire Beauty School-Hooksett, at $10,549 a year after aid versus $14,804 — a gap of $4,255 a year, or $12,588 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 River Valley Community College or Empire Beauty School-Hooksett graduates earn more?
River Valley Community College graduates report a median $44,700 ten years after entry, $11,154 more than the $33,546 at Empire Beauty School-Hooksett. 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, River Valley Community College or Empire Beauty School-Hooksett?
Empire Beauty School-Hooksett: its completers carry a median $7,942 in federal loans versus $16,226 at River Valley Community College, a difference of $8,284. 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?
83% of students finish at Empire Beauty School-Hooksett, against 22% at River Valley 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.