Head-to-head comparison
University of Akron Wayne College vs Aveda Institute-Columbus: which has better ROI?
Option A Orrville, OH
University of Akron Wayne College
- Net price / year
- $6,032
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,600
- 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 University of Akron Wayne College comes closer — median earnings $46,600 against a $24,128 total, vs $30,231 at Aveda Institute-Columbus. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Akron Wayne College | Aveda Institute-Columbus |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,032 | $20,800 |
| Total net cost | $24,128 | $83,200 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,600 | $30,231 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$59,328 | -$445,780 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Akron Wayne College or Aveda Institute-Columbus?
University of Akron Wayne College, at $6,032 a year after aid versus $20,800 — a gap of $14,768 a year, or $59,072 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 University of Akron Wayne College or Aveda Institute-Columbus graduates earn more?
University of Akron Wayne College graduates report a median $46,600 ten years after entry, $16,369 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, University of Akron Wayne College or Aveda Institute-Columbus?
Aveda Institute-Columbus: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $23,250 at University of Akron Wayne College, a difference of $16,917. 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 19% at University of Akron Wayne 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.