Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls vs Art Academy of Cincinnati: which has better ROI?

Private for-profit, Cuyahoga Falls OH · vs · Private nonprofit, Cincinnati OH

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls comes closer — median earnings $34,509 against a $93,496 total, vs $34,368 at Art Academy of Cincinnati. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureFortis College-Cuyahoga FallsArt Academy of Cincinnati
Net price / yr$23,374$34,253
Total net cost$93,496$137,012
Median earnings, 10 yrs$34,509$34,368
Median debt$13,000$27,000
Payback
20-year net return-$370,516-$416,852

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls or Art Academy of Cincinnati?

Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls, at $23,374 a year after aid versus $34,253 — a gap of $10,879 a year, or $43,516 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls or Art Academy of Cincinnati graduates earn more?

Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls graduates report a median $34,509 ten years after entry, $141 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, Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls or Art Academy of Cincinnati?

Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls: its completers carry a median $13,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Art Academy of Cincinnati, a difference of $14,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

47% of students finish at Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls, 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.

Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls vs Art Academy of Cincinnati: frequently asked questions

Is Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls or Art Academy of Cincinnati a better value?
Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls: $23,374/yr net price after aid versus $34,253/yr at Art Academy of Cincinnati — a difference of $10,879 a year, or about $43,516 over four years.
Do Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls or Art Academy of Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls graduates earn a median $34,509 ten years after entry, versus $34,368 at Art Academy of Cincinnati — a $141 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.