Head-to-head comparison
Lincoln University vs Academy of Hair Design-Springfield: which has better ROI?
Option A Jefferson City, MO
Lincoln University
- Net price / year
- $19,092
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,463
- 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 Lincoln University comes closer — median earnings $39,463 against a $76,368 total, vs $25,129 at Academy of Hair Design-Springfield. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lincoln University | Academy of Hair Design-Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,092 | $15,904 |
| Total net cost | $76,368 | $63,616 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,463 | $25,129 |
| Median debt | $28,875 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$254,308 | -$528,236 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lincoln University or Academy of Hair Design-Springfield?
Academy of Hair Design-Springfield, at $15,904 a year after aid versus $19,092 — a gap of $3,188 a year, or $12,752 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 University or Academy of Hair Design-Springfield graduates earn more?
Lincoln University graduates report a median $39,463 ten years after entry, $14,334 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, Lincoln University or Academy of Hair Design-Springfield?
Academy of Hair Design-Springfield: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $28,875 at Lincoln University, a difference of $19,375. 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?
64% of students finish at Academy of Hair Design-Springfield, against 21% at Lincoln University. 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.