Head-to-head comparison
Ross College-Canton vs Aveda Institute-Columbus: which has better ROI?
Option A Canton, OH
Ross College-Canton
- Net price / year
- $28,389
- Earnings, 10 years
- $29,898
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Columbus, OH
Aveda Institute-Columbus
- Net price / year
- $20,800
- Earnings, 10 years
- $30,231
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aveda Institute-Columbus comes closer — median earnings $30,231 against a $83,200 total, vs $29,898 at Ross College-Canton. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ross College-Canton | Aveda Institute-Columbus |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,389 | $20,800 |
| Total net cost | $113,556 | $83,200 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $29,898 | $30,231 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$482,796 | -$445,780 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Ross College-Canton or Aveda Institute-Columbus?
Aveda Institute-Columbus, at $20,800 a year after aid versus $28,389 — a gap of $7,589 a year, or $30,356 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 Ross College-Canton or Aveda Institute-Columbus graduates earn more?
Aveda Institute-Columbus graduates report a median $30,231 ten years after entry, $333 more than the $29,898 at Ross College-Canton. 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, Ross College-Canton or Aveda Institute-Columbus?
Aveda Institute-Columbus: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Ross College-Canton, a difference of $3,167. 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 46% at Ross College-Canton. 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.