St Cloud Technical and Community College vs Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but St Cloud Technical and Community College comes closer — median earnings $46,874 against a $19,270 total, vs $34,659 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | St Cloud Technical and Community College | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,635 | $18,345 |
| Total net cost | $19,270 | $73,380 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,874 | $34,659 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$48,990 | -$347,400 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, St Cloud Technical and Community College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis?
St Cloud Technical and Community College, at $9,635 a year after aid versus $18,345 — a gap of $8,710 a year, or $54,110 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do St Cloud Technical and Community College or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis graduates earn more?
St Cloud Technical and Community College graduates report a median $46,874 ten years after entry, $12,215 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, St Cloud Technical and Community 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 St Cloud Technical and Community 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 45% at St Cloud Technical and Community 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.