Head-to-head comparison
Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati vs Paul Mitchell the School-Columbus: 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 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 $30,468 at Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati | Paul Mitchell the School-Columbus |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,430 | $27,398 |
| Total net cost | $97,720 | $109,592 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $30,468 | $37,609 |
| Median debt | $7,917 | $9,833 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$455,560 | -$324,612 |
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 Paul Mitchell the School-Columbus?
Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati, at $24,430 a year after aid versus $27,398 — a gap of $2,968 a year, or $11,872 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 Paul Mitchell the School-Columbus graduates earn more?
Paul Mitchell the School-Columbus graduates report a median $37,609 ten years after entry, $7,141 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 Paul Mitchell the School-Columbus?
Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati: its completers carry a median $7,917 in federal loans versus $9,833 at Paul Mitchell the School-Columbus, a difference of $1,916. 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 80% at Aveda Fredric's Institute-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.