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Cecil College vs Hair Academy II: which has better ROI?

Public, North East MD · vs · Private for-profit, Hillcrest Heights MD

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cecil College comes closer — median earnings $43,952 against a $19,316 total, vs $43,383 at Hair Academy II. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureCecil CollegeHair Academy II
Net price / yr$9,658$23,444
Total net cost$19,316$93,776
Median earnings, 10 yrs$43,952$43,383
Median debt$9,536$6,333
Payback
20-year net return-$107,476-$193,316

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

Which is cheaper, Cecil College or Hair Academy II?

Cecil College, at $9,658 a year after aid versus $23,444 — a gap of $13,786 a year, or $74,460 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Cecil College or Hair Academy II graduates earn more?

Cecil College graduates report a median $43,952 ten years after entry, $569 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, Cecil College or Hair Academy II?

Hair Academy II: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $9,536 at Cecil College, a difference of $3,203. 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 37% at Cecil 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.

Cecil College vs Hair Academy II: frequently asked questions

Is Cecil College or Hair Academy II a better value?
Cecil 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, Cecil College or Hair Academy II?
Cecil College: $9,658/yr net price after aid versus $23,444/yr at Hair Academy II — a difference of $13,786 a year, or about $74,460 over four years.
Do Cecil College or Hair Academy II graduates earn more?
Cecil College graduates earn a median $43,952 ten years after entry, versus $43,383 at Hair Academy II — a $569 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.