Carida academy spawns heroes with random ships and command tiers, spawn happens after some time, also depends on influence level: higher influence => less time needed to spawn heroes. Each time academy gives 1 space and 1 ground commander.

Is it worth building, especially Week 1 since it's most of the starting income?

Without a doubt. So far I have observed that the academy produces tier V, tier IV, and tier III commanders. The ground ones will all be in special LAV chariots with a sensor ping ability, giving you the much needed ability to bombard factories and barracks without having to fight your way to them. Tier V space commanders will come with a victory-2, tier IV will come with a dreadnaught heavy cruiser, and tier III will come with a strike cruiser, all of which will have the power to weapons ability. Most importantly, all of these guys are free. I think it spawns one space and one ground commander together about every 10-15 weeks with just base loyalty, a moff palace, and maybe a trade station.

I think the Academy currently is not working, because of fixes.
This was the last information we get from the Devs

So it is working for me, it finally did spawn something around Week 12, I just needed to be more patient. Thanks all!
On a related note, the Cardia Academy is pretty interesting for Single Planet start, since you start with Cardia at 10 Influence... I'm running around with a small fleet of space commanders haha

Originally posted by Cooler12351:

I think the Academy currently is not working, because of fixes.
This was the last information we get from the Devs

Everything fine with Carida Academy

If I remember Tier V commanders get a Vic 1 or 2, but the Vic 1 gets the same power to weapons ability of the Vic 2, Tier IV is just the dreadnought, Tier 3 can either be the Strike Cruiser or it can also be a Vindicator Cruiser, but the Vindicator gets a power to engines ability. at -250 creds per week, and you get a new Commander every 7-9 weeks on higher influence levels, it costs 1750-2250 creds per commander, if you get a Vic thats a cheaper Vic, for the other ones you get decent commanders, basically its a win-win.

However apparently the Acedemy can be built by many different factions, if there are different ships/commanders for every faction then I would love to hear about what they get. :)

Originally posted by DCcherrytrees:

If I remember Tier V commanders get a Vic 1 or 2, but the Vic 1 gets the same power to weapons ability of the Vic 2, Tier IV is just the dreadnought, Tier 3 can either be the Strike Cruiser or it can also be a Vindicator Cruiser, but the Vindicator gets a power to engines ability. at -250 creds per week, and you get a new Commander every 7-9 weeks on higher influence levels, it costs 1750-2250 creds per commander, if you get a Vic thats a cheaper Vic, for the other ones you get decent commanders, basically its a win-win.

However apparently the Acedemy can be built by many different factions, if there are different ships/commanders for every faction then I would love to hear about what they get. :)

Galactic Empire:
Commander_Dreadnaught_IV, Commander_VSD1_V, Commander_VSD2_V, Commander_Strike_III, Commander_Vindicator_III, Commander_Chariot_IV_Company, Commander_Chariot_III_Company

New Republic:
Commander_Dreadnaught_IV_Rebel, Commander_Liberty_V, Commander_Dauntless_V, Commander_MC40_IV,Commander_Assault_Frigate_III, Commander_T1B_IV_Company, Commander_T1B_III_Company

Greater Maldrood:
Commander_Dreadnaught_IV, Commander_Procursator_V, Commander_CCVSD_V, Commander_Strike_III, Commander_Chariot_IV_Company, Commander_Chariot_III_Company

Eriadu Authority:
Commander_Imperial_V, Commander_VSD1_V, Commander_VSD2_V, Commander_Broadside_IV, Commander_Vindicator_III, Commander_Chariot_IV_Company, Commander_Chariot_III_Company

Pentastar Alignment:
Commander_Dreadnaught_IV, Commander_Venator_V, Commander_VSD2_V, Commander_Enforcer_III, Commander_Chariot_IV_Company, Commander_Chariot_III_Company

Zsinj's Empire:
Commander_Dreadnaught_IV, Commander_VSD1_V, Commander_VSD2_V, Commander_Gladiator_III, Commander_Chariot_IV_Company, Commander_Chariot_III_Company

Corporate Sector Authority:
Commander_Dreadnaught_IV_Rebel, Commander_VSD1_V, Commander_Dauntless_V, Commander_Gladiator_III, Commander_X10_IV_Company, Commander_X10_III_Company

This list for current 2.3.6 version, there will be some changes to ships, their command tiers, and EotH will get commander too

Which planets do you build the non Empire faction academies?

It's just Carida.