Long Beach City College vs Academy of Art University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Long Beach City College comes closer — median earnings $38,870 against a $24,808 total, vs $39,008 at Academy of Art University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Long Beach City College | Academy of Art University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,202 | $40,613 |
| Total net cost | $24,808 | $162,452 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,870 | $39,008 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$214,608 | -$349,492 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Long Beach City College or Academy of Art University?
Long Beach City College, at $6,202 a year after aid versus $40,613 — a gap of $34,411 a year, or $137,644 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Long Beach City College or Academy of Art University graduates earn more?
Academy of Art University graduates report a median $39,008 ten years after entry, $138 more than the $38,870 at Long Beach City College. 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, Long Beach City College or Academy of Art University?
Long Beach City College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Academy of Art University, a difference of $20,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
34% of students finish at Academy of Art University, against 30% at Long Beach City College. 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.