Head-to-head comparison
Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork vs Bella Capelli Academy: which has better ROI?
Option A Lancaster, PA
Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork
- Net price / year
- $11,971
- Earnings, 10 years
- $29,738
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Monroeville, PA
Bella Capelli Academy
- Net price / year
- $20,459
- Earnings, 10 years
- $25,817
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork comes closer — median earnings $29,738 against a $47,884 total, vs $25,817 at Bella Capelli Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork | Bella Capelli Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,971 | $20,459 |
| Total net cost | $47,884 | $81,836 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $29,738 | $25,817 |
| Median debt | $3,167 | $8,028 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$420,324 | -$532,696 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork or Bella Capelli Academy?
Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork, at $11,971 a year after aid versus $20,459 — a gap of $8,488 a year, or $33,952 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 Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork or Bella Capelli Academy graduates earn more?
Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork graduates report a median $29,738 ten years after entry, $3,921 more than the $25,817 at Bella Capelli Academy. 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, Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork or Bella Capelli Academy?
Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork: its completers carry a median $3,167 in federal loans versus $8,028 at Bella Capelli Academy, a difference of $4,861. 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?
76% of students finish at Bella Capelli Academy, against 70% at Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork. 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.