Head-to-head comparison
Kent State University at Geauga vs Aveda Institute-Columbus: which has better ROI?
Option A Burton, OH
Kent State University at Geauga
- Net price / year
- $12,044
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,388
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Columbus, OH
Aveda Institute-Columbus
- Net price / year
- $20,800
- Earnings, 10 years
- $30,231
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Kent State University at Geauga comes closer — median earnings $45,388 against a $24,088 total, vs $30,231 at Aveda Institute-Columbus. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Kent State University at Geauga | Aveda Institute-Columbus |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,044 | $20,800 |
| Total net cost | $24,088 | $83,200 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,388 | $30,231 |
| Median debt | $24,500 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$83,528 | -$445,780 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Kent State University at Geauga or Aveda Institute-Columbus?
Kent State University at Geauga, at $12,044 a year after aid versus $20,800 — a gap of $8,756 a year, or $59,112 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 Kent State University at Geauga or Aveda Institute-Columbus graduates earn more?
Kent State University at Geauga graduates report a median $45,388 ten years after entry, $15,157 more than the $30,231 at Aveda Institute-Columbus. 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, Kent State University at Geauga or Aveda Institute-Columbus?
Aveda Institute-Columbus: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $24,500 at Kent State University at Geauga, a difference of $18,167. 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 Aveda Institute-Columbus, against 20% at Kent State University at Geauga. 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.