Head-to-head comparison
Shawnee State University vs Aveda Institute-Columbus: which has better ROI?
Option A Portsmouth, OH
Shawnee State University
- Net price / year
- $14,381
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,596
- 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 Shawnee State University comes closer — median earnings $39,596 against a $57,524 total, vs $30,231 at Aveda Institute-Columbus. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Shawnee State University | Aveda Institute-Columbus |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,381 | $20,800 |
| Total net cost | $57,524 | $83,200 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,596 | $30,231 |
| Median debt | $23,000 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$232,804 | -$445,780 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Shawnee State University or Aveda Institute-Columbus?
Shawnee State University, at $14,381 a year after aid versus $20,800 — a gap of $6,419 a year, or $25,676 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 Shawnee State University or Aveda Institute-Columbus graduates earn more?
Shawnee State University graduates report a median $39,596 ten years after entry, $9,365 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, Shawnee State University or Aveda Institute-Columbus?
Aveda Institute-Columbus: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $23,000 at Shawnee State University, a difference of $16,667. 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?
74% of students finish at Aveda Institute-Columbus, against 48% at Shawnee State 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.