Carrington College-Portland vs Phagans School of Hair Design: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Carrington College-Portland comes closer — median earnings $36,625 against a $146,380 total, vs $22,912 at Phagans School of Hair Design. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Carrington College-Portland | Phagans School of Hair Design |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $36,595 | $16,313 |
| Total net cost | $146,380 | $65,252 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,625 | $22,912 |
| Median debt | $9,295 | $8,297 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$381,080 | -$574,212 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Carrington College-Portland or Phagans School of Hair Design?
Phagans School of Hair Design, at $16,313 a year after aid versus $36,595 — a gap of $20,282 a year, or $81,128 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Carrington College-Portland or Phagans School of Hair Design graduates earn more?
Carrington College-Portland graduates report a median $36,625 ten years after entry, $13,713 more than the $22,912 at Phagans School of Hair Design. 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, Carrington College-Portland or Phagans School of Hair Design?
Phagans School of Hair Design: its completers carry a median $8,297 in federal loans versus $9,295 at Carrington College-Portland, a difference of $998. 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 Phagans School of Hair Design, against 54% at Carrington College-Portland. 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.