Head-to-head comparison
Aveda Institute-Denver vs Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs: which has better ROI?
Option A Denver, CO
Aveda Institute-Denver
- Net price / year
- $20,167
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,020
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Colorado Springs, CO
Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs
- Net price / year
- $22,022
- Earnings, 10 years
- $27,683
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aveda Institute-Denver comes closer — median earnings $38,020 against a $80,668 total, vs $27,683 at Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aveda Institute-Denver | Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,167 | $22,022 |
| Total net cost | $80,668 | $88,088 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,020 | $27,683 |
| Median debt | $9,829 | $7,667 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$287,468 | -$501,628 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Aveda Institute-Denver or Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs?
Aveda Institute-Denver, at $20,167 a year after aid versus $22,022 — a gap of $1,855 a year, or $7,420 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-Denver or Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs graduates earn more?
Aveda Institute-Denver graduates report a median $38,020 ten years after entry, $10,337 more than the $27,683 at Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs. 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-Denver or Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs?
Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs: its completers carry a median $7,667 in federal loans versus $9,829 at Aveda Institute-Denver, a difference of $2,162. 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?
85% of students finish at Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs, against 84% at Aveda Institute-Denver. 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.