Head-to-head comparison
Indiana University-Northwest vs Aveda Fredric's Institute-Indianapolis: which has better ROI?
Option A Gary, IN
Indiana University-Northwest
- Net price / year
- $5,130
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,361
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Carmel, IN
Aveda Fredric's Institute-Indianapolis
- Net price / year
- $24,096
- Earnings, 10 years
- $31,963
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Indiana University-Northwest comes closer — median earnings $43,361 against a $20,520 total, vs $31,963 at Aveda Fredric's Institute-Indianapolis. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Indiana University-Northwest | Aveda Fredric's Institute-Indianapolis |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,130 | $24,096 |
| Total net cost | $20,520 | $96,384 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,361 | $31,963 |
| Median debt | $21,710 | $7,389 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$120,500 | -$424,324 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Indiana University-Northwest or Aveda Fredric's Institute-Indianapolis?
Indiana University-Northwest, at $5,130 a year after aid versus $24,096 — a gap of $18,966 a year, or $75,864 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 Indiana University-Northwest or Aveda Fredric's Institute-Indianapolis graduates earn more?
Indiana University-Northwest graduates report a median $43,361 ten years after entry, $11,398 more than the $31,963 at Aveda Fredric's Institute-Indianapolis. 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, Indiana University-Northwest or Aveda Fredric's Institute-Indianapolis?
Aveda Fredric's Institute-Indianapolis: its completers carry a median $7,389 in federal loans versus $21,710 at Indiana University-Northwest, a difference of $14,321. 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?
88% of students finish at Aveda Fredric's Institute-Indianapolis, against 37% at Indiana University-Northwest. 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.