Houghton University vs Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Houghton University comes closer — median earnings $46,721 against a $82,076 total, vs $28,013 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Houghton University | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,519 | $21,623 |
| Total net cost | $82,076 | $86,492 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,721 | $28,013 |
| Median debt | $25,250 | $6,129 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$114,856 | -$493,432 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Houghton University or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York?
Houghton University, at $20,519 a year after aid versus $21,623 — a gap of $1,104 a year, or $4,416 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Houghton University or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York graduates earn more?
Houghton University graduates report a median $46,721 ten years after entry, $18,708 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, Houghton University or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York?
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York: its completers carry a median $6,129 in federal loans versus $25,250 at Houghton University, a difference of $19,121. 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 65% at Houghton University. 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.