Head-to-head comparison
American Institute of Alternative Medicine vs Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton: which has better ROI?
Option A Columbus, OH
American Institute of Alternative Medicine
- Net price / year
- $38,392
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,805
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Dayton, OH
Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton
- Net price / year
- $12,258
- Earnings, 10 years
- $22,271
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but American Institute of Alternative Medicine comes closer — median earnings $40,805 against a $153,568 total, vs $22,271 at Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Institute of Alternative Medicine | Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $38,392 | $12,258 |
| Total net cost | $153,568 | $49,032 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,805 | $22,271 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $9,731 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$304,668 | -$570,812 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, American Institute of Alternative Medicine or Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton?
Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton, at $12,258 a year after aid versus $38,392 — a gap of $26,134 a year, or $104,536 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 American Institute of Alternative Medicine or Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton graduates earn more?
American Institute of Alternative Medicine graduates report a median $40,805 ten years after entry, $18,534 more than the $22,271 at Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton. 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, American Institute of Alternative Medicine or Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton?
American Institute of Alternative Medicine: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $9,731 at Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton, a difference of $231. 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?
74% of students finish at Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton, against 60% at American Institute of Alternative Medicine. 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.