City College of San Francisco vs Academy of Art University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but City College of San Francisco comes closer — median earnings $45,805 against a $27,624 total, vs $39,008 at Academy of Art University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | City College of San Francisco | Academy of Art University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,906 | $40,613 |
| Total net cost | $27,624 | $162,452 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,805 | $39,008 |
| Median debt | $8,218 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$78,724 | -$349,492 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, City College of San Francisco or Academy of Art University?
City College of San Francisco, at $6,906 a year after aid versus $40,613 — a gap of $33,707 a year, or $134,828 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do City College of San Francisco or Academy of Art University graduates earn more?
City College of San Francisco graduates report a median $45,805 ten years after entry, $6,797 more than the $39,008 at Academy of Art 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, City College of San Francisco or Academy of Art University?
City College of San Francisco: its completers carry a median $8,218 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Academy of Art University, a difference of $22,782. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
40% of students finish at City College of San Francisco, 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.