Baker College vs Douglas J Aveda Institute: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Baker College comes closer — median earnings $35,833 against a $52,628 total, vs $26,849 at Douglas J Aveda Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Baker College | Douglas J Aveda Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,157 | $25,357 |
| Total net cost | $52,628 | $101,428 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,833 | $26,849 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$303,168 | -$531,648 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Baker College or Douglas J Aveda Institute?
Baker College, at $13,157 a year after aid versus $25,357 — a gap of $12,200 a year, or $48,800 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Baker College or Douglas J Aveda Institute graduates earn more?
Baker College graduates report a median $35,833 ten years after entry, $8,984 more than the $26,849 at Douglas J Aveda Institute. 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, Baker College or Douglas J Aveda Institute?
Douglas J Aveda Institute: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Baker College, a difference of $18,667. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
83% of students finish at Douglas J Aveda Institute, against 36% at Baker 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.