Head-to-head comparison
Central Carolina Technical College vs Paul Mitchell the School-Columbia: which has better ROI?
Option A Sumter, SC
Central Carolina Technical College
- Net price / year
- $5,571
- Earnings, 10 years
- $32,603
- Payback
- No payback
Option B West Columbia, SC
Paul Mitchell the School-Columbia
- Net price / year
- $18,210
- Earnings, 10 years
- $26,696
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Central Carolina Technical College comes closer — median earnings $32,603 against a $22,284 total, vs $26,696 at Paul Mitchell the School-Columbia. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central Carolina Technical College | Paul Mitchell the School-Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,571 | $18,210 |
| Total net cost | $22,284 | $72,840 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,603 | $26,696 |
| Median debt | $9,977 | $11,740 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$337,424 | -$506,120 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Central Carolina Technical College or Paul Mitchell the School-Columbia?
Central Carolina Technical College, at $5,571 a year after aid versus $18,210 — a gap of $12,639 a year, or $50,556 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 Central Carolina Technical College or Paul Mitchell the School-Columbia graduates earn more?
Central Carolina Technical College graduates report a median $32,603 ten years after entry, $5,907 more than the $26,696 at Paul Mitchell the School-Columbia. 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, Central Carolina Technical College or Paul Mitchell the School-Columbia?
Central Carolina Technical College: its completers carry a median $9,977 in federal loans versus $11,740 at Paul Mitchell the School-Columbia, a difference of $1,763. 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?
69% of students finish at Paul Mitchell the School-Columbia, against 34% at Central Carolina Technical College. 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.