Columbus College of Art & Design vs Aveda Institute-Columbus: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Columbus College of Art & Design comes closer — median earnings $40,664 against a $117,756 total, vs $30,231 at Aveda Institute-Columbus. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbus College of Art & Design | Aveda Institute-Columbus |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,439 | $20,800 |
| Total net cost | $117,756 | $83,200 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,664 | $30,231 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$271,676 | -$445,780 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Columbus College of Art & Design or Aveda Institute-Columbus?
Aveda Institute-Columbus, at $20,800 a year after aid versus $29,439 — a gap of $8,639 a year, or $34,556 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Columbus College of Art & Design or Aveda Institute-Columbus graduates earn more?
Columbus College of Art & Design graduates report a median $40,664 ten years after entry, $10,433 more than the $30,231 at Aveda Institute-Columbus. 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, Columbus College of Art & Design or Aveda Institute-Columbus?
Aveda Institute-Columbus: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Columbus College of Art & Design, a difference of $20,667. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
74% of students finish at Aveda Institute-Columbus, against 56% at Columbus College of Art & Design. 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.