Head-to-head comparison
Aveda Institute-Columbus vs Paul Mitchell the School-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
Paul Mitchell the School-Cincinnati
- Net price / year
- $27,029
- Earnings, 10 years
- $28,363
- 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 $28,363 at Paul Mitchell the School-Cincinnati. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aveda Institute-Columbus | Paul Mitchell the School-Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,800 | $27,029 |
| Total net cost | $83,200 | $108,116 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $30,231 | $28,363 |
| Median debt | $6,333 | $12,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$445,780 | -$508,056 |
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 Paul Mitchell the School-Cincinnati?
Aveda Institute-Columbus, at $20,800 a year after aid versus $27,029 — a gap of $6,229 a year, or $24,916 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 Paul Mitchell the School-Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Aveda Institute-Columbus graduates report a median $30,231 ten years after entry, $1,868 more than the $28,363 at Paul Mitchell the School-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 Institute-Columbus or Paul Mitchell the School-Cincinnati?
Aveda Institute-Columbus: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $12,500 at Paul Mitchell the School-Cincinnati, a difference of $6,167. 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?
79% of students finish at Paul Mitchell the School-Cincinnati, against 74% at Aveda Institute-Columbus. 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.