Head-to-head comparison
Aveda Fredric's Institute-Indianapolis vs Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis: which has better ROI?
Option A Carmel, IN
Aveda Fredric's Institute-Indianapolis
- Net price / year
- $24,096
- Earnings, 10 years
- $31,963
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Indianapolis, IN
Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis
- Net price / year
- $17,213
- Earnings, 10 years
- $24,397
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aveda Fredric's Institute-Indianapolis comes closer — median earnings $31,963 against a $96,384 total, vs $24,397 at Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aveda Fredric's Institute-Indianapolis | Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,096 | $17,213 |
| Total net cost | $96,384 | $68,852 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $31,963 | $24,397 |
| Median debt | $7,389 | $10,667 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$424,324 | -$548,112 |
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-Indianapolis or Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis?
Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis, at $17,213 a year after aid versus $24,096 — a gap of $6,883 a year, or $27,532 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-Indianapolis or Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis graduates earn more?
Aveda Fredric's Institute-Indianapolis graduates report a median $31,963 ten years after entry, $7,566 more than the $24,397 at Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis. 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-Indianapolis or Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis?
Aveda Fredric's Institute-Indianapolis: its completers carry a median $7,389 in federal loans versus $10,667 at Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis, a difference of $3,278. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.