Head-to-head comparison
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington vs River Parishes Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Covington, LA
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington
- Net price / year
- $25,742
- Earnings, 10 years
- $30,334
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Gonzales, LA
River Parishes Community College
- Net price / year
- $10,756
- Earnings, 10 years
- $37,848
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but River Parishes Community College comes closer — median earnings $37,848 against a $43,024 total, vs $30,334 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington | River Parishes Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,742 | $10,756 |
| Total net cost | $102,968 | $43,024 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $30,334 | $37,848 |
| Median debt | $7,917 | $12,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$463,488 | -$253,264 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington or River Parishes Community College?
River Parishes Community College, at $10,756 a year after aid versus $25,742 — a gap of $14,986 a year, or $59,944 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 Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington or River Parishes Community College graduates earn more?
River Parishes Community College graduates report a median $37,848 ten years after entry, $7,514 more than the $30,334 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington. 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, Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington or River Parishes Community College?
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington: its completers carry a median $7,917 in federal loans versus $12,000 at River Parishes Community College, a difference of $4,083. 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?
80% of students finish at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington, against 30% at River Parishes Community 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.