Head-to-head comparison
Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis vs Aveda Fredric's Institute-Indianapolis: which has better ROI?
Option A Indianapolis, IN
Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis
- Net price / year
- $28,371
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,396
- 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 Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis comes closer — median earnings $46,396 against a $113,484 total, vs $31,963 at Aveda Fredric's Institute-Indianapolis. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis | Aveda Fredric's Institute-Indianapolis |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,371 | $24,096 |
| Total net cost | $113,484 | $96,384 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,396 | $31,963 |
| Median debt | $11,730 | $7,389 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$152,764 | -$424,324 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis or Aveda Fredric's Institute-Indianapolis?
Aveda Fredric's Institute-Indianapolis, at $24,096 a year after aid versus $28,371 — a gap of $4,275 a year, or $17,100 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 Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis or Aveda Fredric's Institute-Indianapolis graduates earn more?
Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis graduates report a median $46,396 ten years after entry, $14,433 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, Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis or Aveda Fredric's Institute-Indianapolis?
Aveda Fredric's Institute-Indianapolis: its completers carry a median $7,389 in federal loans versus $11,730 at Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis, a difference of $4,341. 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 57% at Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis. 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.