Head-to-head comparison
Capella University vs Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis: which has better ROI?
Option A Minneapolis, MN
Capella University
- Net price / year
- $17,956
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,189
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Minneapolis, MN
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis
- Net price / year
- $18,345
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,659
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Capella University comes closer — median earnings $42,189 against a $71,824 total, vs $34,659 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Capella University | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,956 | $18,345 |
| Total net cost | $71,824 | $73,380 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,189 | $34,659 |
| Median debt | $14,968 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$195,244 | -$347,400 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Capella University or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis?
Capella University, at $17,956 a year after aid versus $18,345 — a gap of $389 a year, or $1,556 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Capella University or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis graduates earn more?
Capella University graduates report a median $42,189 ten years after entry, $7,530 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Capella University or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis?
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $14,968 at Capella University, a difference of $8,635. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis, against 20% at Capella 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.