Head-to-head comparison
Lorain County Community College vs Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Option A Elyria, OH
Lorain County Community College
- Net price / year
- $3,967
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,837
- Payback
- No payback
Option B West Chester, OH
Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati
- Net price / year
- $24,430
- Earnings, 10 years
- $30,468
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lorain County Community College comes closer — median earnings $38,837 against a $15,868 total, vs $30,468 at Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lorain County Community College | Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,967 | $24,430 |
| Total net cost | $15,868 | $97,720 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,837 | $30,468 |
| Median debt | $13,680 | $7,917 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$206,328 | -$455,560 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lorain County Community College or Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati?
Lorain County Community College, at $3,967 a year after aid versus $24,430 — a gap of $20,463 a year, or $81,852 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 Lorain County Community College or Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Lorain County Community College graduates report a median $38,837 ten years after entry, $8,369 more than the $30,468 at Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati. 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, Lorain County Community College or Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati?
Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati: its completers carry a median $7,917 in federal loans versus $13,680 at Lorain County Community College, a difference of $5,763. 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?
80% of students finish at Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati, against 31% at Lorain County Community College. 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.