Ridgewater College vs Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Ridgewater College comes closer — median earnings $43,827 against a $20,092 total, vs $34,659 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ridgewater College | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,046 | $18,345 |
| Total net cost | $20,092 | $73,380 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,827 | $34,659 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$110,752 | -$347,400 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Ridgewater College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis?
Ridgewater College, at $10,046 a year after aid versus $18,345 — a gap of $8,299 a year, or $53,288 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Ridgewater College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis graduates earn more?
Ridgewater College graduates report a median $43,827 ten years after entry, $9,168 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, Ridgewater College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis?
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Ridgewater College, a difference of $5,667. 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 50% at Ridgewater College. 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.