Bowling Green State University-Firelands vs Art Academy of Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bowling Green State University-Firelands comes closer — median earnings $47,896 against a $34,960 total, vs $34,368 at Art Academy of Cincinnati. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bowling Green State University-Firelands | Art Academy of Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,480 | $34,253 |
| Total net cost | $34,960 | $137,012 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,896 | $34,368 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$44,240 | -$416,852 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bowling Green State University-Firelands or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Bowling Green State University-Firelands, at $17,480 a year after aid versus $34,253 — a gap of $16,773 a year, or $102,052 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Bowling Green State University-Firelands or Art Academy of Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Bowling Green State University-Firelands graduates report a median $47,896 ten years after entry, $13,528 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, Bowling Green State University-Firelands or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Bowling Green State University-Firelands: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Art Academy of Cincinnati, a difference of $2,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
41% of students finish at Art Academy of Cincinnati, against 11% at Bowling Green State University-Firelands. 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.