Head-to-head comparison
Valley College-Cleveland vs Aveda Institute-Columbus: which has better ROI?
Option A Cleveland, OH
Valley College-Cleveland
- Net price / year
- $30,411
- Earnings, 10 years
- $24,900
- 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 Aveda Institute-Columbus comes closer — median earnings $30,231 against a $83,200 total, vs $24,900 at Valley College-Cleveland. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Valley College-Cleveland | Aveda Institute-Columbus |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $30,411 | $20,800 |
| Total net cost | $121,644 | $83,200 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $24,900 | $30,231 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$590,844 | -$445,780 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Valley College-Cleveland or Aveda Institute-Columbus?
Aveda Institute-Columbus, at $20,800 a year after aid versus $30,411 — a gap of $9,611 a year, or $38,444 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 Valley College-Cleveland or Aveda Institute-Columbus graduates earn more?
Aveda Institute-Columbus graduates report a median $30,231 ten years after entry, $5,331 more than the $24,900 at Valley College-Cleveland. 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, Valley College-Cleveland or Aveda Institute-Columbus?
Aveda Institute-Columbus: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Valley College-Cleveland, a difference of $3,167. 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 57% at Valley College-Cleveland. 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.