Degree Dividend
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Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls vs Aveda Institute-Columbus: which has better ROI?

Private for-profit, Cuyahoga Falls OH · vs · Private for-profit, Columbus OH

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls comes closer — median earnings $34,509 against a $93,496 total, vs $30,231 at Aveda Institute-Columbus. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureFortis College-Cuyahoga FallsAveda Institute-Columbus
Net price / yr$23,374$20,800
Total net cost$93,496$83,200
Median earnings, 10 yrs$34,509$30,231
Median debt$13,000$6,333
Payback
20-year net return-$370,516-$445,780

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

Which is cheaper, Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls or Aveda Institute-Columbus?

Aveda Institute-Columbus, at $20,800 a year after aid versus $23,374 — a gap of $2,574 a year, or $10,296 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls or Aveda Institute-Columbus graduates earn more?

Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls graduates report a median $34,509 ten years after entry, $4,278 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, Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls or Aveda Institute-Columbus?

Aveda Institute-Columbus: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $13,000 at Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls, a difference of $6,667. 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 47% at Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls. 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.

Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls vs Aveda Institute-Columbus: frequently asked questions

Is Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls or Aveda Institute-Columbus a better value?
Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls 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, Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls or Aveda Institute-Columbus?
Aveda Institute-Columbus: $20,800/yr net price after aid versus $23,374/yr at Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls — a difference of $2,574 a year, or about $10,296 over four years.
Do Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls or Aveda Institute-Columbus graduates earn more?
Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls graduates earn a median $34,509 ten years after entry, versus $30,231 at Aveda Institute-Columbus — a $4,278 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.