College of the Redwoods vs Advance Beauty College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but College of the Redwoods comes closer — median earnings $36,243 against a $13,808 total, vs $11,575 at Advance Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of the Redwoods | Advance Beauty College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,904 | $10,358 |
| Total net cost | $13,808 | $41,432 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,243 | $11,575 |
| Median debt | $8,080 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$256,148 | -$777,132 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, College of the Redwoods or Advance Beauty College?
College of the Redwoods, at $6,904 a year after aid versus $10,358 — a gap of $3,454 a year, or $27,624 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do College of the Redwoods or Advance Beauty College graduates earn more?
College of the Redwoods graduates report a median $36,243 ten years after entry, $24,668 more than the $11,575 at Advance Beauty College. 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 graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at Advance Beauty College, against 34% at College of the Redwoods. 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.