Head-to-head comparison
Aveda Institute-Columbus vs Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton: 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 Dayton, OH
Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton
- Net price / year
- $12,258
- Earnings, 10 years
- $22,271
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aveda Institute-Columbus comes closer — median earnings $30,231 against a $83,200 total, vs $22,271 at Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aveda Institute-Columbus | Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,800 | $12,258 |
| Total net cost | $83,200 | $49,032 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $30,231 | $22,271 |
| Median debt | $6,333 | $9,731 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$445,780 | -$570,812 |
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 Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton?
Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton, at $12,258 a year after aid versus $20,800 — a gap of $8,542 a year, or $34,168 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 Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton graduates earn more?
Aveda Institute-Columbus graduates report a median $30,231 ten years after entry, $7,960 more than the $22,271 at Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton. 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 Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton?
Aveda Institute-Columbus: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $9,731 at Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton, a difference of $3,398. 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 74% at Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton. 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.