Degree Dividend
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Z Hair Academy vs Bellus Academy: which has better ROI?

Private for-profit, Overland Park KS · vs · Private for-profit, Manhattan KS

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Z Hair Academy comes closer — median earnings $27,346 against a $75,572 total, vs $25,223 at Bellus Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureZ Hair AcademyBellus Academy
Net price / yr$18,893$26,631
Total net cost$75,572$106,524
Median earnings, 10 yrs$27,346$25,223
Median debt$9,833$7,917
Payback
20-year net return-$495,852-$569,264

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Z Hair Academy or Bellus Academy?

Z Hair Academy, at $18,893 a year after aid versus $26,631 — a gap of $7,738 a year, or $30,952 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Z Hair Academy or Bellus Academy graduates earn more?

Z Hair Academy graduates report a median $27,346 ten years after entry, $2,123 more than the $25,223 at Bellus Academy. 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, Z Hair Academy or Bellus Academy?

Bellus Academy: its completers carry a median $7,917 in federal loans versus $9,833 at Z Hair Academy, a difference of $1,916. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

74% of students finish at Bellus Academy, against 74% at Z Hair Academy. 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.

Z Hair Academy vs Bellus Academy: frequently asked questions

Is Z Hair Academy or Bellus Academy a better value?
Z Hair Academy comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Z Hair Academy or Bellus Academy?
Z Hair Academy: $18,893/yr net price after aid versus $26,631/yr at Bellus Academy — a difference of $7,738 a year, or about $30,952 over four years.
Do Z Hair Academy or Bellus Academy graduates earn more?
Z Hair Academy graduates earn a median $27,346 ten years after entry, versus $25,223 at Bellus Academy — a $2,123 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.