Head-to-head comparison
Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati vs Elite School of Cosmetology: 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 Norwalk, OH
Elite School of Cosmetology
- Net price / year
- $32,349
- Earnings, 10 years
- $23,547
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati comes closer — median earnings $30,468 against a $97,720 total, vs $23,547 at Elite School of Cosmetology. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati | Elite School of Cosmetology |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,430 | $32,349 |
| Total net cost | $97,720 | $129,396 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $30,468 | $23,547 |
| Median debt | $7,917 | $7,412 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$455,560 | -$625,656 |
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 Elite School of Cosmetology?
Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati, at $24,430 a year after aid versus $32,349 — a gap of $7,919 a year, or $31,676 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 Elite School of Cosmetology graduates earn more?
Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati graduates report a median $30,468 ten years after entry, $6,921 more than the $23,547 at Elite School 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, Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati or Elite School of Cosmetology?
Elite School of Cosmetology: its completers carry a median $7,412 in federal loans versus $7,917 at Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati, a difference of $505. 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 65% at Elite School of Cosmetology. 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.