Iowa Central Community College vs Aveda Institute-Des Moines: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Iowa Central Community College comes closer — median earnings $42,046 against a $18,656 total, vs $36,132 at Aveda Institute-Des Moines. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Iowa Central Community College | Aveda Institute-Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,328 | $18,552 |
| Total net cost | $18,656 | $74,208 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,046 | $36,132 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $8,461 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$144,936 | -$318,768 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Iowa Central Community College or Aveda Institute-Des Moines?
Iowa Central Community College, at $9,328 a year after aid versus $18,552 — a gap of $9,224 a year, or $55,552 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Iowa Central Community College or Aveda Institute-Des Moines graduates earn more?
Iowa Central Community College graduates report a median $42,046 ten years after entry, $5,914 more than the $36,132 at Aveda Institute-Des Moines. 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, Iowa Central Community College or Aveda Institute-Des Moines?
Aveda Institute-Des Moines: its completers carry a median $8,461 in federal loans versus $11,000 at Iowa Central Community College, a difference of $2,539. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
88% of students finish at Aveda Institute-Des Moines, against 42% at Iowa Central 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.