Pinnacle Career Institute vs Academy of Hair Design-Springfield: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Pinnacle Career Institute comes closer — median earnings $34,213 against a $114,928 total, vs $25,129 at Academy of Hair Design-Springfield. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pinnacle Career Institute | Academy of Hair Design-Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,732 | $15,904 |
| Total net cost | $114,928 | $63,616 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,213 | $25,129 |
| Median debt | $11,605 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$397,868 | -$528,236 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Pinnacle Career Institute or Academy of Hair Design-Springfield?
Academy of Hair Design-Springfield, at $15,904 a year after aid versus $28,732 — a gap of $12,828 a year, or $51,312 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Pinnacle Career Institute or Academy of Hair Design-Springfield graduates earn more?
Pinnacle Career Institute graduates report a median $34,213 ten years after entry, $9,084 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, Pinnacle Career Institute or Academy of Hair Design-Springfield?
Academy of Hair Design-Springfield: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $11,605 at Pinnacle Career Institute, a difference of $2,105. 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 52% at Pinnacle Career Institute. 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.