Head-to-head comparison
Anderson University vs Paul Mitchell the School-Charleston: which has better ROI?
Option A Anderson, SC
Anderson University
- Net price / year
- $23,544
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,101
- Payback
- No payback
Option B North Charleston, SC
Paul Mitchell the School-Charleston
- Net price / year
- $17,726
- Earnings, 10 years
- $26,696
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Anderson University comes closer — median earnings $42,101 against a $94,176 total, vs $26,696 at Paul Mitchell the School-Charleston. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Anderson University | Paul Mitchell the School-Charleston |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,544 | $17,726 |
| Total net cost | $94,176 | $70,904 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,101 | $26,696 |
| Median debt | $26,700 | $11,740 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$219,356 | -$504,184 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Anderson University or Paul Mitchell the School-Charleston?
Paul Mitchell the School-Charleston, at $17,726 a year after aid versus $23,544 — a gap of $5,818 a year, or $23,272 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 Anderson University or Paul Mitchell the School-Charleston graduates earn more?
Anderson University graduates report a median $42,101 ten years after entry, $15,405 more than the $26,696 at Paul Mitchell the School-Charleston. 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, Anderson University or Paul Mitchell the School-Charleston?
Paul Mitchell the School-Charleston: its completers carry a median $11,740 in federal loans versus $26,700 at Anderson University, a difference of $14,960. 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?
75% of students finish at Paul Mitchell the School-Charleston, against 66% at Anderson University. 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.