Rochester Community and Technical College vs Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Rochester Community and Technical College comes closer — median earnings $45,287 against a $28,870 total, vs $34,659 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Rochester Community and Technical College | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,435 | $18,345 |
| Total net cost | $28,870 | $73,380 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,287 | $34,659 |
| Median debt | $14,743 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$90,330 | -$347,400 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Rochester Community and Technical College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis?
Rochester Community and Technical College, at $14,435 a year after aid versus $18,345 — a gap of $3,910 a year, or $44,510 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Rochester Community and Technical College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis graduates earn more?
Rochester Community and Technical College graduates report a median $45,287 ten years after entry, $10,628 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, Rochester Community and Technical College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis?
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $14,743 at Rochester Community and Technical College, a difference of $8,410. 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 29% at Rochester Community and Technical 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.