Lourdes University vs Art Academy of Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lourdes University comes closer — median earnings $48,150 against a $92,824 total, vs $34,368 at Art Academy of Cincinnati. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lourdes University | Art Academy of Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,206 | $34,253 |
| Total net cost | $92,824 | $137,012 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,150 | $34,368 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$97,024 | -$416,852 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Lourdes University or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Lourdes University, at $23,206 a year after aid versus $34,253 — a gap of $11,047 a year, or $44,188 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Lourdes University or Art Academy of Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Lourdes University graduates report a median $48,150 ten years after entry, $13,782 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, Lourdes University or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Completers at both borrow a median $27,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
Which graduates more of its students?
41% of students finish at Art Academy of Cincinnati, against 32% at Lourdes University. 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.