Bard College vs Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bard College comes closer — median earnings $46,543 against a $138,596 total, vs $28,013 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bard College | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,649 | $21,623 |
| Total net cost | $138,596 | $86,492 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,543 | $28,013 |
| Median debt | $24,254 | $6,129 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$174,936 | -$493,432 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bard College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York?
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York, at $21,623 a year after aid versus $34,649 — a gap of $13,026 a year, or $52,104 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Bard College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York graduates earn more?
Bard College graduates report a median $46,543 ten years after entry, $18,530 more than the $28,013 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York. 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, Bard College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York?
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York: its completers carry a median $6,129 in federal loans versus $24,254 at Bard College, a difference of $18,125. 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-New York, against 68% at Bard 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.