Head-to-head comparison
Clover Park Technical College vs Paul Mitchell the School-Richland: which has better ROI?
Option A Lakewood, WA
Clover Park Technical College
- Net price / year
- $9,864
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,787
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Richland, WA
Paul Mitchell the School-Richland
- Net price / year
- $26,617
- Earnings, 10 years
- $27,407
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Clover Park Technical College comes closer — median earnings $41,787 against a $39,456 total, vs $27,407 at Paul Mitchell the School-Richland. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Clover Park Technical College | Paul Mitchell the School-Richland |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,864 | $26,617 |
| Total net cost | $39,456 | $106,468 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,787 | $27,407 |
| Median debt | $12,112 | $9,917 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$170,916 | -$525,528 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Clover Park Technical College or Paul Mitchell the School-Richland?
Clover Park Technical College, at $9,864 a year after aid versus $26,617 — a gap of $16,753 a year, or $67,012 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 Clover Park Technical College or Paul Mitchell the School-Richland graduates earn more?
Clover Park Technical College graduates report a median $41,787 ten years after entry, $14,380 more than the $27,407 at Paul Mitchell the School-Richland. 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, Clover Park Technical College or Paul Mitchell the School-Richland?
Paul Mitchell the School-Richland: its completers carry a median $9,917 in federal loans versus $12,112 at Clover Park Technical College, a difference of $2,195. 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 Paul Mitchell the School-Richland, against 43% at Clover Park 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.