Head-to-head comparison
Hennepin Technical College vs Northwestern Health Sciences University: which has better ROI?
Option A Brooklyn Park, MN
Hennepin Technical College
- Net price / year
- $10,272
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,460
- Payback
- 37.4 yrs
Option B Bloomington, MN
Northwestern Health Sciences University
- Net price / year
- $35,887
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,666
- Payback
- 234.6 yrs
Hennepin Technical College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $41,088 in 37.4 years versus 234.6 years at Northwestern Health Sciences University, on median earnings of $49,460 vs $48,666 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Hennepin Technical College | Northwestern Health Sciences University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,272 | $35,887 |
| Total net cost | $41,088 | $71,774 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,460 | $48,666 |
| Median debt | $11,433 | $7,500 |
| Payback | 37.4 yrs | 234.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$19,088 | -$65,654 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Hennepin Technical College or Northwestern Health Sciences University?
Hennepin Technical College, at $10,272 a year after aid versus $35,887 — a gap of $25,615 a year, or $30,686 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 Hennepin Technical College or Northwestern Health Sciences University graduates earn more?
Hennepin Technical College graduates report a median $49,460 ten years after entry, $794 more than the $48,666 at Northwestern Health Sciences University. 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, Hennepin Technical College or Northwestern Health Sciences University?
Northwestern Health Sciences University: its completers carry a median $7,500 in federal loans versus $11,433 at Hennepin Technical College, a difference of $3,933. 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?
42% of students finish at Hennepin Technical College, against 0% at Northwestern Health Sciences 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.