Alvin Community College vs Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Alvin Community College comes closer — median earnings $45,762 against a $17,050 total, vs $32,162 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alvin Community College | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,525 | $20,491 |
| Total net cost | $17,050 | $81,964 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,762 | $32,162 |
| Median debt | $4,519 | $7,916 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$69,010 | -$405,924 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Alvin Community College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio?
Alvin Community College, at $8,525 a year after aid versus $20,491 — a gap of $11,966 a year, or $64,914 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Alvin Community College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio graduates earn more?
Alvin Community College graduates report a median $45,762 ten years after entry, $13,600 more than the $32,162 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio. 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, Alvin Community College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio?
Alvin Community College: its completers carry a median $4,519 in federal loans versus $7,916 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio, a difference of $3,397. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
81% of students finish at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio, against 24% at Alvin Community 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.