Columbus College of Art & Design vs Auburn Career Center: 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 $37,032 at Auburn Career Center. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbus College of Art & Design | Auburn Career Center |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,439 | $12,051 |
| Total net cost | $117,756 | $48,204 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,664 | $37,032 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $6,365 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$271,676 | -$274,764 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Columbus College of Art & Design or Auburn Career Center?
Auburn Career Center, at $12,051 a year after aid versus $29,439 — a gap of $17,388 a year, or $69,552 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 Auburn Career Center graduates earn more?
Columbus College of Art & Design graduates report a median $40,664 ten years after entry, $3,632 more than the $37,032 at Auburn Career Center. 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 Auburn Career Center?
Auburn Career Center: its completers carry a median $6,365 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Columbus College of Art & Design, a difference of $20,635. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
69% of students finish at Auburn Career Center, 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.