Maharishi International University vs Aveda Institute-Des Moines: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aveda Institute-Des Moines comes closer — median earnings $36,132 against a $74,208 total, vs $27,981 at Maharishi International University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Maharishi International University | Aveda Institute-Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,956 | $18,552 |
| Total net cost | $59,824 | $74,208 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $27,981 | $36,132 |
| Median debt | $24,781 | $8,461 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$467,404 | -$318,768 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Maharishi International University or Aveda Institute-Des Moines?
Maharishi International University, at $14,956 a year after aid versus $18,552 — a gap of $3,596 a year, or $14,384 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Maharishi International University or Aveda Institute-Des Moines graduates earn more?
Aveda Institute-Des Moines graduates report a median $36,132 ten years after entry, $8,151 more than the $27,981 at Maharishi International University. 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, Maharishi International University or Aveda Institute-Des Moines?
Aveda Institute-Des Moines: its completers carry a median $8,461 in federal loans versus $24,781 at Maharishi International University, a difference of $16,320. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
88% of students finish at Aveda Institute-Des Moines, against 50% at Maharishi International University. 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.