Head-to-head comparison
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Highland vs Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis: which has better ROI?
Option A Highland, IN
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Highland
- Net price / year
- $20,909
- Earnings, 10 years
- $22,374
- 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 Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis comes closer — median earnings $24,397 against a $68,852 total, vs $22,374 at Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Highland. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Highland | Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,909 | $17,213 |
| Total net cost | $83,636 | $68,852 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $22,374 | $24,397 |
| Median debt | $7,307 | $10,667 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$603,356 | -$548,112 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Highland or Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis?
Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis, at $17,213 a year after aid versus $20,909 — a gap of $3,696 a year, or $14,784 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 Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Highland or Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis graduates earn more?
Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis graduates report a median $24,397 ten years after entry, $2,023 more than the $22,374 at Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Highland. 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, Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Highland or Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis?
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Highland: its completers carry a median $7,307 in federal loans versus $10,667 at Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis, a difference of $3,360. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.