Minneapolis College of Art and Design vs Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Minneapolis College of Art and Design comes closer — median earnings $40,873 against a $119,704 total, vs $34,659 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Minneapolis College of Art and Design | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,926 | $18,345 |
| Total net cost | $119,704 | $73,380 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,873 | $34,659 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$269,444 | -$347,400 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Minneapolis College of Art and Design or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis?
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis, at $18,345 a year after aid versus $29,926 — a gap of $11,581 a year, or $46,324 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Minneapolis College of Art and Design or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis graduates earn more?
Minneapolis College of Art and Design graduates report a median $40,873 ten years after entry, $6,214 more than the $34,659 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis. 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, Minneapolis College of Art and Design or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis?
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Minneapolis College of Art and Design, a difference of $20,667. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis, against 51% at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. 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.