Head-to-head comparison
Aveda Institute-Columbus vs ATA College-Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Option A Columbus, OH
Aveda Institute-Columbus
- Net price / year
- $20,800
- Earnings, 10 years
- $30,231
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Cincinnati, OH
ATA College-Cincinnati
- Net price / year
- $27,055
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,577
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but ATA College-Cincinnati comes closer — median earnings $34,577 against a $108,220 total, vs $30,231 at Aveda Institute-Columbus. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aveda Institute-Columbus | ATA College-Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,800 | $27,055 |
| Total net cost | $83,200 | $108,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $30,231 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $6,333 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$445,780 | -$383,880 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Aveda Institute-Columbus or ATA College-Cincinnati?
Aveda Institute-Columbus, at $20,800 a year after aid versus $27,055 — a gap of $6,255 a year, or $25,020 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 Institute-Columbus or ATA College-Cincinnati graduates earn more?
ATA College-Cincinnati graduates report a median $34,577 ten years after entry, $4,346 more than the $30,231 at Aveda Institute-Columbus. 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 Institute-Columbus or ATA College-Cincinnati?
Aveda Institute-Columbus: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA College-Cincinnati, a difference of $14,697. 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?
74% of students finish at Aveda Institute-Columbus, against 63% at ATA College-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.