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Ohio Technical College vs Art Academy of Cincinnati: which has better ROI?

Private for-profit, Cleveland OH · vs · Private nonprofit, Cincinnati OH

The verdict

Ohio Technical College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $139,888 in 1554.3 years versus not at all at Art Academy of Cincinnati, on median earnings of $48,450 vs $34,368 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureOhio Technical CollegeArt Academy of Cincinnati
Net price / yr$34,972$34,253
Total net cost$139,888$137,012
Median earnings, 10 yrs$48,450$34,368
Median debt$12,000$27,000
Payback1554.3 yrs
20-year net return-$138,088-$416,852

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

Which is cheaper, Ohio Technical College or Art Academy of Cincinnati?

Art Academy of Cincinnati, at $34,253 a year after aid versus $34,972 — a gap of $719 a year, or $2,876 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Ohio Technical College or Art Academy of Cincinnati graduates earn more?

Ohio Technical College graduates report a median $48,450 ten years after entry, $14,082 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, Ohio Technical College or Art Academy of Cincinnati?

Ohio Technical 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?

90% of students finish at Ohio Technical 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.

Ohio Technical College vs Art Academy of Cincinnati: frequently asked questions

Is Ohio Technical College or Art Academy of Cincinnati a better value?
Ohio Technical College. It clears its $139,888 net cost in about 1554.3 years versus no clear payback at Art Academy of Cincinnati, on median earnings of $48,450 vs $34,368 ten years out.
Which is cheaper, Ohio Technical College or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Art Academy of Cincinnati: $34,253/yr net price after aid versus $34,972/yr at Ohio Technical College — a difference of $719 a year, or about $2,876 over four years.
Do Ohio Technical College or Art Academy of Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Ohio Technical College graduates earn a median $48,450 ten years after entry, versus $34,368 at Art Academy of Cincinnati — a $14,082 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.