Nova Academy of Cosmetology — ROI, Cost & Payback
Nova Academy of Cosmetology charges a net price of $21,473/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $85,892. Median earnings ten years after entry are $32,156, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Nova Academy of Cosmetology does not clear its cost — it ranks #67 of 68 Minnesota colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $21,473/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $85,892 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $32,156 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$16,204/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $9,424 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$409,972 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Nova Academy of Cosmetology's own numbers. Net price $21,473 × 4 years = $85,892 total. Median earnings $32,156 fall $16,204 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $85,892 bill in about 8.6 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Nova Academy of Cosmetology students graduate with?
A median $9,424 in federal loans among completers, or 29% of the $32,156 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Nova Academy of Cosmetology students graduate?
77% finish their degree. Spread the $85,892 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $111,548 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Nova Academy of Cosmetology expensive compared with other Minnesota colleges?
Its $21,473 net price runs $4,653 above the $16,821 median across the 68 Minnesota colleges we profile, or $18,610 more across the full degree.