Academy of Art University vs San Joaquin Valley College-Modesto: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but San Joaquin Valley College-Modesto comes closer — median earnings $38,317 against a $106,824 total, vs $39,008 at Academy of Art University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Academy of Art University | San Joaquin Valley College-Modesto |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $40,613 | $26,706 |
| Total net cost | $162,452 | $106,824 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,008 | $38,317 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $10,674 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$349,492 | -$307,684 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Academy of Art University or San Joaquin Valley College-Modesto?
San Joaquin Valley College-Modesto, at $26,706 a year after aid versus $40,613 — a gap of $13,907 a year, or $55,628 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Academy of Art University or San Joaquin Valley College-Modesto graduates earn more?
Academy of Art University graduates report a median $39,008 ten years after entry, $691 more than the $38,317 at San Joaquin Valley College-Modesto. 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.
Which leaves students with less debt, Academy of Art University or San Joaquin Valley College-Modesto?
San Joaquin Valley College-Modesto: its completers carry a median $10,674 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Academy of Art University, a difference of $20,326. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
77% of students finish at San Joaquin Valley College-Modesto, against 34% at Academy of Art 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.