Head-to-head comparison
Andrew College vs Georgia Institute of Cosmetology: which has better ROI?
Option A Cuthbert, GA
Andrew College
- Net price / year
- $21,823
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,475
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Athens, GA
Georgia Institute of Cosmetology
- Net price / year
- $14,397
- Earnings, 10 years
- $21,432
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Andrew College comes closer — median earnings $38,475 against a $43,646 total, vs $21,432 at Georgia Institute of Cosmetology. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Andrew College | Georgia Institute of Cosmetology |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,823 | $14,397 |
| Total net cost | $43,646 | $57,588 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,475 | $21,432 |
| Median debt | $12,533 | $11,273 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$241,346 | -$596,148 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Andrew College or Georgia Institute of Cosmetology?
Georgia Institute of Cosmetology, at $14,397 a year after aid versus $21,823 — a gap of $7,426 a year, or $13,942 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 Andrew College or Georgia Institute of Cosmetology graduates earn more?
Andrew College graduates report a median $38,475 ten years after entry, $17,043 more than the $21,432 at Georgia Institute of Cosmetology. 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, Andrew College or Georgia Institute of Cosmetology?
Georgia Institute of Cosmetology: its completers carry a median $11,273 in federal loans versus $12,533 at Andrew College, a difference of $1,260. 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?
54% of students finish at Georgia Institute of Cosmetology, against 33% at Andrew 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.