Columbus College of Art & Design vs American Institute of Alternative Medicine: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Columbus College of Art & Design comes closer — median earnings $40,664 against a $117,756 total, vs $40,805 at American Institute of Alternative Medicine. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbus College of Art & Design | American Institute of Alternative Medicine |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,439 | $38,392 |
| Total net cost | $117,756 | $153,568 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,664 | $40,805 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$271,676 | -$304,668 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Columbus College of Art & Design or American Institute of Alternative Medicine?
Columbus College of Art & Design, at $29,439 a year after aid versus $38,392 — a gap of $8,953 a year, or $35,812 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Columbus College of Art & Design or American Institute of Alternative Medicine graduates earn more?
American Institute of Alternative Medicine graduates report a median $40,805 ten years after entry, $141 more than the $40,664 at Columbus College of Art & Design. 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, Columbus College of Art & Design or American Institute of Alternative Medicine?
American Institute of Alternative Medicine: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Columbus College of Art & Design, a difference of $17,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
60% of students finish at American Institute of Alternative Medicine, against 56% at Columbus College of Art & Design. 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.