Columbia-Greene Community College vs Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Columbia-Greene Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,441 against a $13,118 total, vs $28,013 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbia-Greene Community College | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,559 | $21,623 |
| Total net cost | $13,118 | $86,492 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,441 | $28,013 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $6,129 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$91,498 | -$493,432 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Columbia-Greene Community College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York?
Columbia-Greene Community College, at $6,559 a year after aid versus $21,623 — a gap of $15,064 a year, or $73,374 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Columbia-Greene Community College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York graduates earn more?
Columbia-Greene Community College graduates report a median $44,441 ten years after entry, $16,428 more than the $28,013 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York. 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, Columbia-Greene Community College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York?
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York: its completers carry a median $6,129 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Columbia-Greene Community College, a difference of $5,871. 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 Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York, against 46% at Columbia-Greene 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.