Kirkwood Community College vs Aveda Institute-Des Moines: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Kirkwood Community College comes closer — median earnings $41,016 against a $19,410 total, vs $36,132 at Aveda Institute-Des Moines. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Kirkwood Community College | Aveda Institute-Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,705 | $18,552 |
| Total net cost | $19,410 | $74,208 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,016 | $36,132 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $8,461 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$166,290 | -$318,768 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Kirkwood Community College or Aveda Institute-Des Moines?
Kirkwood Community College, at $9,705 a year after aid versus $18,552 — a gap of $8,847 a year, or $54,798 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Kirkwood Community College or Aveda Institute-Des Moines graduates earn more?
Kirkwood Community College graduates report a median $41,016 ten years after entry, $4,884 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, Kirkwood Community College or Aveda Institute-Des Moines?
Aveda Institute-Des Moines: its completers carry a median $8,461 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Kirkwood Community College, a difference of $3,539. 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 43% at Kirkwood 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.