Head-to-head comparison
Paul Mitchell the School-Cincinnati vs Art Academy of Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Option A Cincinnati, OH
Paul Mitchell the School-Cincinnati
- Net price / year
- $27,029
- Earnings, 10 years
- $28,363
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Cincinnati, OH
Art Academy of Cincinnati
- Net price / year
- $34,253
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,368
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Art Academy of Cincinnati comes closer — median earnings $34,368 against a $137,012 total, vs $28,363 at Paul Mitchell the School-Cincinnati. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Paul Mitchell the School-Cincinnati | Art Academy of Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,029 | $34,253 |
| Total net cost | $108,116 | $137,012 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $28,363 | $34,368 |
| Median debt | $12,500 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$508,056 | -$416,852 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Paul Mitchell the School-Cincinnati or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Paul Mitchell the School-Cincinnati, at $27,029 a year after aid versus $34,253 — a gap of $7,224 a year, or $28,896 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 Paul Mitchell the School-Cincinnati or Art Academy of Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Art Academy of Cincinnati graduates report a median $34,368 ten years after entry, $6,005 more than the $28,363 at Paul Mitchell the School-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, Paul Mitchell the School-Cincinnati or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Paul Mitchell the School-Cincinnati: its completers carry a median $12,500 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Art Academy of Cincinnati, a difference of $14,500. 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?
79% of students finish at Paul Mitchell the School-Cincinnati, against 41% at Art Academy of Cincinnati. 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.