Amarillo College vs Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Amarillo College comes closer — median earnings $41,302 against a $9,200 total, vs $32,162 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Amarillo College | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,600 | $20,491 |
| Total net cost | $9,200 | $81,964 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,302 | $32,162 |
| Median debt | $15,000 | $7,916 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$150,360 | -$405,924 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Amarillo College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio?
Amarillo College, at $4,600 a year after aid versus $20,491 — a gap of $15,891 a year, or $72,764 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Amarillo College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio graduates earn more?
Amarillo College graduates report a median $41,302 ten years after entry, $9,140 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, Amarillo College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio?
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio: its completers carry a median $7,916 in federal loans versus $15,000 at Amarillo College, a difference of $7,084. 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 32% at Amarillo 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.