Head-to-head comparison
Southeastern Community College vs Aveda Institute-Des Moines: which has better ROI?
Option A West Burlington, IA
Southeastern Community College
- Net price / year
- $12,347
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,882
- Payback
- No payback
Option B West Des Moines, IA
Aveda Institute-Des Moines
- Net price / year
- $18,552
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,132
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Southeastern Community College comes closer — median earnings $36,882 against a $49,388 total, vs $36,132 at Aveda Institute-Des Moines. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southeastern Community College | Aveda Institute-Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,347 | $18,552 |
| Total net cost | $49,388 | $74,208 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,882 | $36,132 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $8,461 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$278,948 | -$318,768 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Southeastern Community College or Aveda Institute-Des Moines?
Southeastern Community College, at $12,347 a year after aid versus $18,552 — a gap of $6,205 a year, or $24,820 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 Southeastern Community College or Aveda Institute-Des Moines graduates earn more?
Southeastern Community College graduates report a median $36,882 ten years after entry, $750 more than the $36,132 at Aveda Institute-Des Moines. 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, Southeastern Community College or Aveda Institute-Des Moines?
Aveda Institute-Des Moines: its completers carry a median $8,461 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Southeastern Community College, a difference of $3,539. 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?
88% of students finish at Aveda Institute-Des Moines, against 43% at Southeastern Community 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.