Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington vs Southern University at New Orleans: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Southern University at New Orleans comes closer — median earnings $34,042 against a $59,240 total, vs $30,334 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington | Southern University at New Orleans |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,742 | $14,810 |
| Total net cost | $102,968 | $59,240 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $30,334 | $34,042 |
| Median debt | $7,917 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$463,488 | -$345,600 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington or Southern University at New Orleans?
Southern University at New Orleans, at $14,810 a year after aid versus $25,742 — a gap of $10,932 a year, or $43,728 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington or Southern University at New Orleans graduates earn more?
Southern University at New Orleans graduates report a median $34,042 ten years after entry, $3,708 more than the $30,334 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington. 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, Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington or Southern University at New Orleans?
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington: its completers carry a median $7,917 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Southern University at New Orleans, a difference of $23,083. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
80% of students finish at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington, against 13% at Southern University at New Orleans. 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.