Head-to-head comparison
Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton vs Art Academy of Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Option A Dayton, OH
Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton
- Net price / year
- $12,258
- Earnings, 10 years
- $22,271
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Cincinnati, OH
Art Academy of Cincinnati
- Net price / year
- $34,253
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,368
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Art Academy of Cincinnati comes closer — median earnings $34,368 against a $137,012 total, vs $22,271 at Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton | Art Academy of Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,258 | $34,253 |
| Total net cost | $49,032 | $137,012 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $22,271 | $34,368 |
| Median debt | $9,731 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$570,812 | -$416,852 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton, at $12,258 a year after aid versus $34,253 — a gap of $21,995 a year, or $87,980 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 Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton or Art Academy of Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Art Academy of Cincinnati graduates report a median $34,368 ten years after entry, $12,097 more than the $22,271 at Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton. 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, Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton: its completers carry a median $9,731 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Art Academy of Cincinnati, a difference of $17,269. 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 Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton, against 41% at Art Academy of Cincinnati. 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.