Polaris Career Center vs Aveda Institute-Columbus: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Polaris Career Center comes closer — median earnings $38,718 against a $39,724 total, vs $30,231 at Aveda Institute-Columbus. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Polaris Career Center | Aveda Institute-Columbus |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,931 | $20,800 |
| Total net cost | $39,724 | $83,200 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,718 | $30,231 |
| Median debt | $6,365 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$232,564 | -$445,780 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Polaris Career Center or Aveda Institute-Columbus?
Polaris Career Center, at $9,931 a year after aid versus $20,800 — a gap of $10,869 a year, or $43,476 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Polaris Career Center or Aveda Institute-Columbus graduates earn more?
Polaris Career Center graduates report a median $38,718 ten years after entry, $8,487 more than the $30,231 at Aveda Institute-Columbus. 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, Polaris Career Center or Aveda Institute-Columbus?
Aveda Institute-Columbus: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $6,365 at Polaris Career Center, a difference of $32. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
77% of students finish at Polaris Career Center, against 74% at Aveda Institute-Columbus. 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.