College of the Ozarks vs Kansas City Art Institute: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but College of the Ozarks comes closer — median earnings $41,592 against a $24,400 total, vs $37,032 at Kansas City Art Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of the Ozarks | Kansas City Art Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,100 | $27,650 |
| Total net cost | $24,400 | $110,600 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,592 | $37,032 |
| Median debt | — | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$159,760 | -$337,160 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, College of the Ozarks or Kansas City Art Institute?
College of the Ozarks, at $6,100 a year after aid versus $27,650 — a gap of $21,550 a year, or $86,200 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do College of the Ozarks or Kansas City Art Institute graduates earn more?
College of the Ozarks graduates report a median $41,592 ten years after entry, $4,560 more than the $37,032 at Kansas City Art Institute. 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 graduates more of its students?
64% of students finish at College of the Ozarks, against 58% at Kansas City Art Institute. 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.