Head-to-head comparison
Academy of Hair Design-Springfield vs Cottey College: which has better ROI?
Option A Springfield, MO
Academy of Hair Design-Springfield
- Net price / year
- $15,904
- Earnings, 10 years
- $25,129
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Nevada, MO
Cottey College
- Net price / year
- $13,805
- Earnings, 10 years
- $35,422
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cottey College comes closer — median earnings $35,422 against a $55,220 total, vs $25,129 at Academy of Hair Design-Springfield. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Academy of Hair Design-Springfield | Cottey College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,904 | $13,805 |
| Total net cost | $63,616 | $55,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $25,129 | $35,422 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $19,043 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$528,236 | -$313,980 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Academy of Hair Design-Springfield or Cottey College?
Cottey College, at $13,805 a year after aid versus $15,904 — a gap of $2,099 a year, or $8,396 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 Academy of Hair Design-Springfield or Cottey College graduates earn more?
Cottey College graduates report a median $35,422 ten years after entry, $10,293 more than the $25,129 at Academy of Hair Design-Springfield. 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, Academy of Hair Design-Springfield or Cottey College?
Academy of Hair Design-Springfield: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $19,043 at Cottey College, a difference of $9,543. 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?
64% of students finish at Academy of Hair Design-Springfield, against 56% at Cottey 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.