James A. Rhodes State College vs Art Academy of Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but James A. Rhodes State College comes closer — median earnings $41,855 against a $35,028 total, vs $34,368 at Art Academy of Cincinnati. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | James A. Rhodes State College | Art Academy of Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,757 | $34,253 |
| Total net cost | $35,028 | $137,012 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,855 | $34,368 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$165,128 | -$416,852 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, James A. Rhodes State College or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
James A. Rhodes State College, at $8,757 a year after aid versus $34,253 — a gap of $25,496 a year, or $101,984 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do James A. Rhodes State College or Art Academy of Cincinnati graduates earn more?
James A. Rhodes State College graduates report a median $41,855 ten years after entry, $7,487 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, James A. Rhodes State College or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
James A. Rhodes State College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Art Academy of Cincinnati, a difference of $15,000. 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 James A. Rhodes State College, 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.