Head-to-head comparison
Wilberforce University vs Aveda Institute-Columbus: which has better ROI?
Option A Wilberforce, OH
Wilberforce University
- Net price / year
- $5,567
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,298
- 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 Wilberforce University comes closer — median earnings $38,298 against a $22,268 total, vs $30,231 at Aveda Institute-Columbus. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wilberforce University | Aveda Institute-Columbus |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,567 | $20,800 |
| Total net cost | $22,268 | $83,200 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,298 | $30,231 |
| Median debt | $26,468 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$223,508 | -$445,780 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Wilberforce University or Aveda Institute-Columbus?
Wilberforce University, at $5,567 a year after aid versus $20,800 — a gap of $15,233 a year, or $60,932 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 Wilberforce University or Aveda Institute-Columbus graduates earn more?
Wilberforce University graduates report a median $38,298 ten years after entry, $8,067 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, Wilberforce University or Aveda Institute-Columbus?
Aveda Institute-Columbus: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $26,468 at Wilberforce University, a difference of $20,135. 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 12% at Wilberforce University. 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.