Degree Dividend
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Carroll Community College vs Hair Academy II: which has better ROI?

Public, Westminster MD · vs · Private for-profit, Hillcrest Heights MD

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Carroll Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,349 against a $5,450 total, vs $43,383 at Hair Academy II. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureCarroll Community CollegeHair Academy II
Net price / yr$2,725$23,444
Total net cost$5,450$93,776
Median earnings, 10 yrs$44,349$43,383
Median debt$11,750$6,333
Payback
20-year net return-$85,670-$193,316

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Carroll Community College or Hair Academy II?

Carroll Community College, at $2,725 a year after aid versus $23,444 — a gap of $20,719 a year, or $88,326 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Carroll Community College or Hair Academy II graduates earn more?

Carroll Community College graduates report a median $44,349 ten years after entry, $966 more than the $43,383 at Hair Academy II. 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, Carroll Community College or Hair Academy II?

Hair Academy II: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $11,750 at Carroll Community College, a difference of $5,417. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

55% of students finish at Hair Academy II, against 39% at Carroll 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.

Carroll Community College vs Hair Academy II: frequently asked questions

Is Carroll Community College or Hair Academy II a better value?
Carroll Community College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Carroll Community College or Hair Academy II?
Carroll Community College: $2,725/yr net price after aid versus $23,444/yr at Hair Academy II — a difference of $20,719 a year, or about $88,326 over four years.
Do Carroll Community College or Hair Academy II graduates earn more?
Carroll Community College graduates earn a median $44,349 ten years after entry, versus $43,383 at Hair Academy II — a $966 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.