Head-to-head comparison
Art Academy of Cincinnati vs Paul Mitchell the School-Columbus: which has better ROI?
Option A Cincinnati, OH
Art Academy of Cincinnati
- Net price / year
- $34,253
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,368
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Columbus, OH
Paul Mitchell the School-Columbus
- Net price / year
- $27,398
- Earnings, 10 years
- $37,609
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Paul Mitchell the School-Columbus comes closer — median earnings $37,609 against a $109,592 total, vs $34,368 at Art Academy of Cincinnati. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Art Academy of Cincinnati | Paul Mitchell the School-Columbus |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,253 | $27,398 |
| Total net cost | $137,012 | $109,592 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,368 | $37,609 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $9,833 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$416,852 | -$324,612 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Art Academy of Cincinnati or Paul Mitchell the School-Columbus?
Paul Mitchell the School-Columbus, at $27,398 a year after aid versus $34,253 — a gap of $6,855 a year, or $27,420 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 Art Academy of Cincinnati or Paul Mitchell the School-Columbus graduates earn more?
Paul Mitchell the School-Columbus graduates report a median $37,609 ten years after entry, $3,241 more than the $34,368 at Art Academy of Cincinnati. 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, Art Academy of Cincinnati or Paul Mitchell the School-Columbus?
Paul Mitchell the School-Columbus: its completers carry a median $9,833 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Art Academy of Cincinnati, a difference of $17,167. 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?
81% of students finish at Paul Mitchell the School-Columbus, against 41% at Art Academy of Cincinnati. 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.