Academy College vs Bemidji State University
Side-by-side college ROI comparison from College Scorecard data
Verdict
Academy College has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Bemidji State University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Academy College at $31,004 vs Bemidji State University at $26,532. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $60,000 vs $55,950.
| Metric | Academy College | Bemidji State University |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| School Type | Private | Public |
| State | Mn | Mn |
| Avg Median Debt Average median debt across all tracked majors | $31,004 | $26,532* |
| Avg 1yr Earnings Average first-year earnings across all tracked majors | $60,000* | $55,950 |
| Majors Tracked | 2 | 20 |
| Best ROI Major | Business Administration, Management and Operations (76/100) | Mathematics (95/100)* |
| Best Major Debt | $31,004 | $22,722* |
| Best Major 1yr Earnings | $65,000 | $78,000* |
Academy College has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Bemidji State University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Academy College at $31,004 vs Bemidji State University at $26,532. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $60,000 vs $55,950.
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Completion rates run close at the two schools: 100.0% versus 100.0%. When graduation probability is comparable across both options, the decision comes down to cost and post-graduation earnings rather than degree-completion risk.
The schools sit within a moderate debt range of each other: $26,532 versus $31,004. Read those alongside the earnings figures — debt by itself is misleading, what matters is the debt-to-first-year-earnings ratio, which captures the real burden of repayment relative to the income the degree produces.
Earnings outcomes track closely — Academy College and Bemidji State University graduates report similar first-year wages. The school decision in cases like this is usually decided on non-financial axes (program quality, geography, fit) since the ROI math runs close enough to be inside the noise.
Both schools sit in Mn, which simplifies the in-state-vs-out-of-state tuition question and aligns the regional labor markets students will enter post-graduation. Cross-school comparisons within the same state should weight program mix and employer-pipeline depth heavily — the cost-of-living and labor-market backdrop is effectively held constant, so program-level differences are the differentiator.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.