Head-to-head comparison
Columbus State Community College vs Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Option A Columbus, OH
Columbus State Community College
- Net price / year
- $8,400
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,435
- Payback
- No payback
Option B West Chester, OH
Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati
- Net price / year
- $24,430
- Earnings, 10 years
- $30,468
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Columbus State Community College comes closer — median earnings $39,435 against a $33,600 total, vs $30,468 at Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbus State Community College | Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,400 | $24,430 |
| Total net cost | $33,600 | $97,720 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,435 | $30,468 |
| Median debt | $8,749 | $7,917 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$212,100 | -$455,560 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Columbus State Community College or Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati?
Columbus State Community College, at $8,400 a year after aid versus $24,430 — a gap of $16,030 a year, or $64,120 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 Columbus State Community College or Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Columbus State Community College graduates report a median $39,435 ten years after entry, $8,967 more than the $30,468 at Aveda Fredric's Institute-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, Columbus State Community College or Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati?
Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati: its completers carry a median $7,917 in federal loans versus $8,749 at Columbus State Community College, a difference of $832. 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?
80% of students finish at Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati, against 28% at Columbus State Community 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.