Cleveland Institute of Art vs Art Academy of Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cleveland Institute of Art comes closer — median earnings $42,509 against a $116,832 total, vs $34,368 at Art Academy of Cincinnati. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cleveland Institute of Art | Art Academy of Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,208 | $34,253 |
| Total net cost | $116,832 | $137,012 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,509 | $34,368 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$233,852 | -$416,852 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Cleveland Institute of Art or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Cleveland Institute of Art, at $29,208 a year after aid versus $34,253 — a gap of $5,045 a year, or $20,180 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Cleveland Institute of Art or Art Academy of Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Cleveland Institute of Art graduates report a median $42,509 ten years after entry, $8,141 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, Cleveland Institute of Art or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Completers at both borrow a median $27,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
Which graduates more of its students?
58% of students finish at Cleveland Institute of Art, 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.