Head-to-head comparison
Ohio Technical College vs Aveda Institute-Columbus: which has better ROI?
Option A Cleveland, OH
Ohio Technical College
- Net price / year
- $34,972
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,450
- Payback
- 1554.3 yrs
Option B Columbus, OH
Aveda Institute-Columbus
- Net price / year
- $20,800
- Earnings, 10 years
- $30,231
- Payback
- No payback
Ohio Technical College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $139,888 in 1554.3 years versus not at all at Aveda Institute-Columbus, on median earnings of $48,450 vs $30,231 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ohio Technical College | Aveda Institute-Columbus |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,972 | $20,800 |
| Total net cost | $139,888 | $83,200 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,450 | $30,231 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $6,333 |
| Payback | 1554.3 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | -$138,088 | -$445,780 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Ohio Technical College or Aveda Institute-Columbus?
Aveda Institute-Columbus, at $20,800 a year after aid versus $34,972 — a gap of $14,172 a year, or $56,688 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 Ohio Technical College or Aveda Institute-Columbus graduates earn more?
Ohio Technical College graduates report a median $48,450 ten years after entry, $18,219 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, Ohio Technical College or Aveda Institute-Columbus?
Aveda Institute-Columbus: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Ohio Technical College, a difference of $5,667. 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?
90% of students finish at Ohio Technical College, against 74% at Aveda Institute-Columbus. 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.