Head-to-head comparison
Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati vs Art Academy of Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Option A West Chester, OH
Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati
- Net price / year
- $24,430
- Earnings, 10 years
- $30,468
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Cincinnati, OH
Art Academy of Cincinnati
- Net price / year
- $34,253
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,368
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Art Academy of Cincinnati comes closer — median earnings $34,368 against a $137,012 total, vs $30,468 at Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati | Art Academy of Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,430 | $34,253 |
| Total net cost | $97,720 | $137,012 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $30,468 | $34,368 |
| Median debt | $7,917 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$455,560 | -$416,852 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati, at $24,430 a year after aid versus $34,253 — a gap of $9,823 a year, or $39,292 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 Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati or Art Academy of Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Art Academy of Cincinnati graduates report a median $34,368 ten years after entry, $3,900 more than the $30,468 at Aveda Fredric's Institute-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, Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati: its completers carry a median $7,917 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Art Academy of Cincinnati, a difference of $19,083. 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 Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati, 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.