Coastline Community College vs Academy of Art University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Coastline Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,483 against a $32,682 total, vs $39,008 at Academy of Art University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Coastline Community College | Academy of Art University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,341 | $40,613 |
| Total net cost | $32,682 | $162,452 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,483 | $39,008 |
| Median debt | $8,250 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$110,222 | -$349,492 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Coastline Community College or Academy of Art University?
Coastline Community College, at $16,341 a year after aid versus $40,613 — a gap of $24,272 a year, or $129,770 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Coastline Community College or Academy of Art University graduates earn more?
Coastline Community College graduates report a median $44,483 ten years after entry, $5,475 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, Coastline Community College or Academy of Art University?
Coastline Community College: its completers carry a median $8,250 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Academy of Art University, a difference of $22,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
34% of students finish at Academy of Art University, against 34% at Coastline Community College. 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.