SOWELA Technical Community College vs Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but SOWELA Technical Community College comes closer — median earnings $32,303 against a $30,100 total, vs $30,334 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | SOWELA Technical Community College | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,525 | $25,742 |
| Total net cost | $30,100 | $102,968 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,303 | $30,334 |
| Median debt | — | $7,917 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$351,240 | -$463,488 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, SOWELA Technical Community College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington?
SOWELA Technical Community College, at $7,525 a year after aid versus $25,742 — a gap of $18,217 a year, or $72,868 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do SOWELA Technical Community College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington graduates earn more?
SOWELA Technical Community College graduates report a median $32,303 ten years after entry, $1,969 more than the $30,334 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington. 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 graduates more of its students?
80% of students finish at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington, against 43% at SOWELA 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.