Cuyahoga Community College District vs Art Academy of Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cuyahoga Community College District comes closer — median earnings $35,654 against a $17,064 total, vs $34,368 at Art Academy of Cincinnati. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cuyahoga Community College District | Art Academy of Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,266 | $34,253 |
| Total net cost | $17,064 | $137,012 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,654 | $34,368 |
| Median debt | $8,150 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$271,184 | -$416,852 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Cuyahoga Community College District or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Cuyahoga Community College District, at $4,266 a year after aid versus $34,253 — a gap of $29,987 a year, or $119,948 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Cuyahoga Community College District or Art Academy of Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Cuyahoga Community College District graduates report a median $35,654 ten years after entry, $1,286 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, Cuyahoga Community College District or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Cuyahoga Community College District: its completers carry a median $8,150 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Art Academy of Cincinnati, a difference of $18,850. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
41% of students finish at Art Academy of Cincinnati, against 31% at Cuyahoga Community College District. 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.