Academy College
Bloomington, Minnesota · Private For-Profit
ROI Score: 18/100 · Poor Value
Academy College, a tiny for-profit private institution in Bloomington, Minnesota (56 enrolled students), posts a Poor Value ROI score of 18/100 - the lowest in this batch. The data is uniformly difficult: completion rate of just 36%, a 19.3-year payback period, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.942 that puts borrowers nearly at parity with their annual earnings. Tuition is $18,680 per year, but net price of $29,093 is more than 50% higher than sticker (room/board and limited aid), pushing four-year cost to $116,372. Median earnings six years after entry are $31,300, climbing to just $48,300 at ten years. The repayment rate of 53.7% signals serious financial distress: nearly half of borrowers are not making progress on principal seven years out. The earnings premium over high-school grads is just 11.4%. This is a profile that essentially does not pencil out on any conventional financial metric. The small scale and absence of program-level data make it hard to see clear paths even for committed students. Prospective applicants should look hard at Minnesota's community-college and state-college alternatives at a fraction of the cost.
The data raises concerns about Academy College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score18/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate36.0% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period19.3 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Academy College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $18,680/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $18,680/yr |
| Average net price | $29,093/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $116,372 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $48,300 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $31,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $29,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $313 |
| Estimated payback period | 19.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 36.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 56 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Academy College is $18,680/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $29,093/year, or roughly $116,372 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of N/A/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $33,874/year.
The median graduate leaves with $29,500 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $313 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $48,300 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.94 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | N/A |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $29,015 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $24,391 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | N/A |
| $110,001+ | $33,874 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Net price for families earning under $30,000 is not reported - small cohort or data suppression. Pell-eligible students still face a structurally weak ROI scenario regardless of aid.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $29,015 per year, the $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $24,391, and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket is not reported. The inversion where middle-middle brackets pay less than the bottom of middle-income is unusual - likely an artifact of small cohorts. Four-year cost for the reported brackets runs $97,500-$116,000.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $33,874 per year - well above the published $18,680 tuition - putting four-year cost at $135,496. The financial case is essentially impossible to draw at this price point for full-pay families. Public alternatives at a fraction of the cost are widely available.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 50.9% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 53.7% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 35.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 47.9% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 56 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 25.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $2,708 |
Academy College's admission rate is not reported in current Scorecard data, and SAT/ACT mid-ranges are also missing. The absence of standardized data combined with the for-profit institutional structure suggests an open-admission or near-open posture typical of small for-profit career colleges. The 36% completion rate is independent of admissions and reflects institutional retention challenges.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Scorecard peers include Capella University (online for-profit), DeVry University New Jersey, DeVry University Florida, Design Institute of San Diego, and Northwest College of Art and Design. This is an entirely for-profit peer set, and Academy College's 18 ROI sits at the bottom even relative to these structurally similar institutions. The DeVry comparisons illustrate the broader for-profit pattern: high cost, weak completion, modest earnings, distressed repayment.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy College (this school) | 18 | $29,093 | $48,300 |
| DeVry University-New Jersey | 32 | $26,565 | $45,987 |
| Capella University | 31 | $17,956 | $42,189 |
| Design Institute of San Diego | 28 | $44,010 | $46,920 |
| DeVry University-Florida | 21 | $29,477 | $45,987 |
| Northwest College of Art & Design | 17 | $16,418 | $31,167 |
Who Thrives Here
Academy College enrolls just 56 students with a 25.7% Pell rate. The very small scale and for-profit positioning make this a niche institution. There is no clear student profile for whom the ROI math works on financial grounds alone. Prospective applicants should seriously evaluate Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) or Hennepin Technical College as alternatives.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Academy College. With a net cost of $29,093 per year and median graduate earnings of only $48,300 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 19.3 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 36.0% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $29,500 against $48,300 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
New analyses, updated school profiles, and tools - when there’s something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.