Head-to-head comparison
Paul Mitchell the School-Springfield vs Cottey College: which has better ROI?
Option A Springfield, MO
Paul Mitchell the School-Springfield
- Net price / year
- $16,926
- Earnings, 10 years
- $25,931
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Nevada, MO
Cottey College
- Net price / year
- $13,805
- Earnings, 10 years
- $35,422
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cottey College comes closer — median earnings $35,422 against a $55,220 total, vs $25,931 at Paul Mitchell the School-Springfield. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Paul Mitchell the School-Springfield | Cottey College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,926 | $13,805 |
| Total net cost | $67,704 | $55,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $25,931 | $35,422 |
| Median debt | $7,917 | $19,043 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$516,284 | -$313,980 |
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-Springfield or Cottey College?
Cottey College, at $13,805 a year after aid versus $16,926 — a gap of $3,121 a year, or $12,484 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-Springfield or Cottey College graduates earn more?
Cottey College graduates report a median $35,422 ten years after entry, $9,491 more than the $25,931 at Paul Mitchell the School-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, Paul Mitchell the School-Springfield or Cottey College?
Paul Mitchell the School-Springfield: its completers carry a median $7,917 in federal loans versus $19,043 at Cottey College, a difference of $11,126. 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 Paul Mitchell the School-Springfield, against 56% at Cottey 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.