Head-to-head comparison
Ridgewater College vs Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis: which has better ROI?
Option A Willmar, MN
Ridgewater College
- Net price / year
- $10,046
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,827
- 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 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.
The short answer
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.
The short answer
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.
The short answer
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.
The short answer
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.