Academy of Hair Design-Springfield vs Cottey College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cottey College comes closer — median earnings $35,422 against a $55,220 total, vs $25,129 at Academy of Hair Design-Springfield. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Academy of Hair Design-Springfield | Cottey College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,904 | $13,805 |
| Total net cost | $63,616 | $55,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $25,129 | $35,422 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $19,043 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$528,236 | -$313,980 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Academy of Hair Design-Springfield or Cottey College?
Cottey College, at $13,805 a year after aid versus $15,904 — a gap of $2,099 a year, or $8,396 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Academy of Hair Design-Springfield or Cottey College graduates earn more?
Cottey College graduates report a median $35,422 ten years after entry, $10,293 more than the $25,129 at Academy of Hair Design-Springfield. 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.
Which leaves students with less debt, Academy of Hair Design-Springfield or Cottey College?
Academy of Hair Design-Springfield: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $19,043 at Cottey College, a difference of $9,543. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
64% of students finish at Academy of Hair Design-Springfield, against 56% at Cottey 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.