Auburn Career Center vs Art Academy of Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Auburn Career Center comes closer — median earnings $37,032 against a $48,204 total, vs $34,368 at Art Academy of Cincinnati. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Auburn Career Center | Art Academy of Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,051 | $34,253 |
| Total net cost | $48,204 | $137,012 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,032 | $34,368 |
| Median debt | $6,365 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$274,764 | -$416,852 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Auburn Career Center or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Auburn Career Center, at $12,051 a year after aid versus $34,253 — a gap of $22,202 a year, or $88,808 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Auburn Career Center or Art Academy of Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Auburn Career Center graduates report a median $37,032 ten years after entry, $2,664 more than the $34,368 at Art Academy of Cincinnati. 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, Auburn Career Center or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Auburn Career Center: its completers carry a median $6,365 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Art Academy of Cincinnati, a difference of $20,635. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
69% of students finish at Auburn Career Center, against 41% at Art Academy of Cincinnati. 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.