Head-to-head comparison
Missouri Western State University vs Academy of Hair Design-Springfield: which has better ROI?
Option A Saint Joseph, MO
Missouri Western State University
- Net price / year
- $13,251
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,647
- 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 Missouri Western State University comes closer — median earnings $42,647 against a $53,004 total, vs $25,129 at Academy of Hair Design-Springfield. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Missouri Western State University | Academy of Hair Design-Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,251 | $15,904 |
| Total net cost | $53,004 | $63,616 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,647 | $25,129 |
| Median debt | $19,968 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$167,264 | -$528,236 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Missouri Western State University or Academy of Hair Design-Springfield?
Missouri Western State University, at $13,251 a year after aid versus $15,904 — a gap of $2,653 a year, or $10,612 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 Missouri Western State University or Academy of Hair Design-Springfield graduates earn more?
Missouri Western State University graduates report a median $42,647 ten years after entry, $17,518 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, Missouri Western State University or Academy of Hair Design-Springfield?
Academy of Hair Design-Springfield: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $19,968 at Missouri Western State University, a difference of $10,468. 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 39% at Missouri Western State 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.