Head-to-head comparison
University of Rio Grande vs Aveda Institute-Columbus: which has better ROI?
Option A Rio Grande, OH
University of Rio Grande
- Net price / year
- $23,686
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,478
- 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 Rio Grande comes closer — median earnings $41,478 against a $47,372 total, vs $30,231 at Aveda Institute-Columbus. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Rio Grande | Aveda Institute-Columbus |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,686 | $20,800 |
| Total net cost | $47,372 | $83,200 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,478 | $30,231 |
| Median debt | $17,750 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$185,012 | -$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 Rio Grande or Aveda Institute-Columbus?
Aveda Institute-Columbus, at $20,800 a year after aid versus $23,686 — a gap of $2,886 a year, or $35,828 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 Rio Grande or Aveda Institute-Columbus graduates earn more?
University of Rio Grande graduates report a median $41,478 ten years after entry, $11,247 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 Rio Grande or Aveda Institute-Columbus?
Aveda Institute-Columbus: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $17,750 at University of Rio Grande, a difference of $11,417. 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 36% at University of Rio Grande. 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.