Columbus College of Art & Design vs Art Academy of Cincinnati: 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 $34,368 at Art Academy of Cincinnati. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbus College of Art & Design | Art Academy of Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,439 | $34,253 |
| Total net cost | $117,756 | $137,012 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,664 | $34,368 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$271,676 | -$416,852 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Columbus College of Art & Design or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Columbus College of Art & Design, at $29,439 a year after aid versus $34,253 — a gap of $4,814 a year, or $19,256 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 Art Academy of Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Columbus College of Art & Design graduates report a median $40,664 ten years after entry, $6,296 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, Columbus College of Art & Design 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?
56% of students finish at Columbus College of Art & Design, 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.