Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis vs Nova Academy of Cosmetology: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis comes closer — median earnings $34,659 against a $73,380 total, vs $32,156 at Nova Academy of Cosmetology. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis | Nova Academy of Cosmetology |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,345 | $21,473 |
| Total net cost | $73,380 | $85,892 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,659 | $32,156 |
| Median debt | $6,333 | $9,424 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$347,400 | -$409,972 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis or Nova Academy of Cosmetology?
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis, at $18,345 a year after aid versus $21,473 — a gap of $3,128 a year, or $12,512 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis or Nova Academy of Cosmetology graduates earn more?
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis graduates report a median $34,659 ten years after entry, $2,503 more than the $32,156 at Nova Academy of Cosmetology. 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, Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis or Nova Academy of Cosmetology?
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $9,424 at Nova Academy of Cosmetology, a difference of $3,091. 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 Nova Academy of Cosmetology, against 68% at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis. 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.