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Ozarks Technical Community College vs Academy of Hair Design-Springfield: which has better ROI?

Public, Springfield MO · vs · Private for-profit, Springfield MO

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Ozarks Technical Community College comes closer — median earnings $36,455 against a $13,872 total, vs $25,129 at Academy of Hair Design-Springfield. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureOzarks Technical Community CollegeAcademy of Hair Design-Springfield
Net price / yr$6,936$15,904
Total net cost$13,872$63,616
Median earnings, 10 yrs$36,455$25,129
Median debt$10,453$9,500
Payback
20-year net return-$251,972-$528,236

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

Which is cheaper, Ozarks Technical Community College or Academy of Hair Design-Springfield?

Ozarks Technical Community College, at $6,936 a year after aid versus $15,904 — a gap of $8,968 a year, or $49,744 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Ozarks Technical Community College or Academy of Hair Design-Springfield graduates earn more?

Ozarks Technical Community College graduates report a median $36,455 ten years after entry, $11,326 more than the $25,129 at Academy of Hair Design-Springfield. 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, Ozarks Technical Community College or Academy of Hair Design-Springfield?

Academy of Hair Design-Springfield: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $10,453 at Ozarks Technical Community College, a difference of $953. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

64% of students finish at Academy of Hair Design-Springfield, against 33% at Ozarks Technical 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.

Ozarks Technical Community College vs Academy of Hair Design-Springfield: frequently asked questions

Is Ozarks Technical Community College or Academy of Hair Design-Springfield a better value?
Ozarks Technical Community College 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, Ozarks Technical Community College or Academy of Hair Design-Springfield?
Ozarks Technical Community College: $6,936/yr net price after aid versus $15,904/yr at Academy of Hair Design-Springfield — a difference of $8,968 a year, or about $49,744 over four years.
Do Ozarks Technical Community College or Academy of Hair Design-Springfield graduates earn more?
Ozarks Technical Community College graduates earn a median $36,455 ten years after entry, versus $25,129 at Academy of Hair Design-Springfield — a $11,326 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.