Schenectady County Community College vs Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Schenectady County Community College comes closer — median earnings $40,902 against a $17,894 total, vs $28,013 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Schenectady County Community College | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,947 | $21,623 |
| Total net cost | $17,894 | $86,492 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,902 | $28,013 |
| Median debt | $11,049 | $6,129 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$167,054 | -$493,432 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Schenectady County Community College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York?
Schenectady County Community College, at $8,947 a year after aid versus $21,623 — a gap of $12,676 a year, or $68,598 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Schenectady County Community College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York graduates earn more?
Schenectady County Community College graduates report a median $40,902 ten years after entry, $12,889 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, Schenectady County Community 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 $11,049 at Schenectady County Community College, a difference of $4,920. 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 32% at Schenectady County 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.