Plaza College vs Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Plaza College comes closer — median earnings $31,519 against a $39,720 total, vs $28,013 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Plaza College | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,860 | $21,623 |
| Total net cost | $39,720 | $86,492 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $31,519 | $28,013 |
| Median debt | $20,751 | $6,129 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$376,540 | -$493,432 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Plaza College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York?
Plaza College, at $19,860 a year after aid versus $21,623 — a gap of $1,763 a year, or $46,772 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Plaza College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York graduates earn more?
Plaza College graduates report a median $31,519 ten years after entry, $3,506 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, Plaza College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York?
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York: its completers carry a median $6,129 in federal loans versus $20,751 at Plaza College, a difference of $14,622. 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 68% at Plaza 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.