California Baptist University vs Art Center College of Design: which has better ROI?
California Baptist University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $105,140 in 8 years versus 8.2 years at Art Center College of Design, on median earnings of $61,504 vs $71,958 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | California Baptist University | Art Center College of Design |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $26,285 | $48,661 |
| Total net cost | $105,140 | $194,644 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $61,504 | $71,958 |
| Median debt | $26,063 | $31,000 |
| Payback | 8 yrs | 8.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $157,740 | $277,316 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, California Baptist University or Art Center College of Design?
California Baptist University, at $26,285 a year after aid versus $48,661 — a gap of $22,376 a year, or $89,504 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do California Baptist University or Art Center College of Design graduates earn more?
Art Center College of Design graduates report a median $71,958 ten years after entry, $10,454 more than the $61,504 at California Baptist University. 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, California Baptist University or Art Center College of Design?
California Baptist University: its completers carry a median $26,063 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Art Center College of Design, a difference of $4,937. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
79% of students finish at Art Center College of Design, against 62% at California Baptist 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.