Head-to-head comparison
Stark State College vs Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Option A North Canton, OH
Stark State College
- Net price / year
- $5,986
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,661
- Payback
- No payback
Option B West Chester, OH
Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati
- Net price / year
- $24,430
- Earnings, 10 years
- $30,468
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Stark State College comes closer — median earnings $34,661 against a $23,944 total, vs $30,468 at Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Stark State College | Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,986 | $24,430 |
| Total net cost | $23,944 | $97,720 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,661 | $30,468 |
| Median debt | $13,786 | $7,917 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$297,924 | -$455,560 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Stark State College or Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati?
Stark State College, at $5,986 a year after aid versus $24,430 — a gap of $18,444 a year, or $73,776 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 Stark State College or Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Stark State College graduates report a median $34,661 ten years after entry, $4,193 more than the $30,468 at Aveda Fredric's Institute-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, Stark State College or Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati?
Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati: its completers carry a median $7,917 in federal loans versus $13,786 at Stark State College, a difference of $5,869. 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 Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati, against 23% at Stark State 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.