Head-to-head comparison
East Central College vs Academy of Hair Design-Springfield: which has better ROI?
Option A Union, MO
East Central College
- Net price / year
- $13,128
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,916
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Springfield, MO
Academy of Hair Design-Springfield
- Net price / year
- $15,904
- Earnings, 10 years
- $25,129
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but East Central College comes closer — median earnings $36,916 against a $26,256 total, vs $25,129 at Academy of Hair Design-Springfield. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | East Central College | Academy of Hair Design-Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,128 | $15,904 |
| Total net cost | $26,256 | $63,616 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,916 | $25,129 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$255,136 | -$528,236 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, East Central College or Academy of Hair Design-Springfield?
East Central College, at $13,128 a year after aid versus $15,904 — a gap of $2,776 a year, or $37,360 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 East Central College or Academy of Hair Design-Springfield graduates earn more?
East Central College graduates report a median $36,916 ten years after entry, $11,787 more than the $25,129 at Academy of Hair Design-Springfield. 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, East Central College or Academy of Hair Design-Springfield?
Completers at both borrow a median $9,500, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
64% of students finish at Academy of Hair Design-Springfield, against 48% at East Central 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.