Cottey College vs Paul Mitchell the School-St Louis: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cottey College comes closer — median earnings $35,422 against a $55,220 total, vs $33,132 at Paul Mitchell the School-St Louis. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cottey College | Paul Mitchell the School-St Louis |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,805 | $24,907 |
| Total net cost | $55,220 | $99,628 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,422 | $33,132 |
| Median debt | $19,043 | $9,833 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$313,980 | -$404,188 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Cottey College or Paul Mitchell the School-St Louis?
Cottey College, at $13,805 a year after aid versus $24,907 — a gap of $11,102 a year, or $44,408 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Cottey College or Paul Mitchell the School-St Louis graduates earn more?
Cottey College graduates report a median $35,422 ten years after entry, $2,290 more than the $33,132 at Paul Mitchell the School-St Louis. 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, Cottey College or Paul Mitchell the School-St Louis?
Paul Mitchell the School-St Louis: its completers carry a median $9,833 in federal loans versus $19,043 at Cottey College, a difference of $9,210. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
59% of students finish at Paul Mitchell the School-St Louis, against 56% at Cottey 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.