Butler Community College vs Z Hair Academy: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Butler Community College comes closer — median earnings $41,206 against a $31,448 total, vs $27,346 at Z Hair Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Butler Community College | Z Hair Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,724 | $18,893 |
| Total net cost | $31,448 | $75,572 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,206 | $27,346 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $9,833 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$174,528 | -$495,852 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Butler Community College or Z Hair Academy?
Butler Community College, at $15,724 a year after aid versus $18,893 — a gap of $3,169 a year, or $44,124 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Butler Community College or Z Hair Academy graduates earn more?
Butler Community College graduates report a median $41,206 ten years after entry, $13,860 more than the $27,346 at Z Hair Academy. 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, Butler Community College or Z Hair Academy?
Z Hair Academy: its completers carry a median $9,833 in federal loans versus $10,500 at Butler Community College, a difference of $667. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
74% of students finish at Z Hair Academy, against 32% at Butler 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.