Head-to-head comparison
Muskingum University vs Aveda Institute-Columbus: which has better ROI?
Option A New Concord, OH
Muskingum University
- Net price / year
- $19,532
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,440
- Payback
- 976.6 yrs
Option B Columbus, OH
Aveda Institute-Columbus
- Net price / year
- $20,800
- Earnings, 10 years
- $30,231
- Payback
- No payback
Muskingum University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $78,128 in 976.6 years versus not at all at Aveda Institute-Columbus, on median earnings of $48,440 vs $30,231 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Muskingum University | Aveda Institute-Columbus |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,532 | $20,800 |
| Total net cost | $78,128 | $83,200 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,440 | $30,231 |
| Median debt | $25,369 | $6,333 |
| Payback | 976.6 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | -$76,528 | -$445,780 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Muskingum University or Aveda Institute-Columbus?
Muskingum University, at $19,532 a year after aid versus $20,800 — a gap of $1,268 a year, or $5,072 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 Muskingum University or Aveda Institute-Columbus graduates earn more?
Muskingum University graduates report a median $48,440 ten years after entry, $18,209 more than the $30,231 at Aveda Institute-Columbus. 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, Muskingum University or Aveda Institute-Columbus?
Aveda Institute-Columbus: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $25,369 at Muskingum University, a difference of $19,036. 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?
74% of students finish at Aveda Institute-Columbus, against 56% at Muskingum 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.