School of Visual Arts vs Apex Technical School: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Apex Technical School comes closer — median earnings $41,093 against a $59,304 total, vs $46,459 at School of Visual Arts. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | School of Visual Arts | Apex Technical School |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $57,914 | $14,826 |
| Total net cost | $231,656 | $59,304 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,459 | $41,093 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$269,676 | -$204,644 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, School of Visual Arts or Apex Technical School?
Apex Technical School, at $14,826 a year after aid versus $57,914 — a gap of $43,088 a year, or $172,352 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do School of Visual Arts or Apex Technical School graduates earn more?
School of Visual Arts graduates report a median $46,459 ten years after entry, $5,366 more than the $41,093 at Apex Technical School. 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, School of Visual Arts or Apex Technical School?
Apex Technical School: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $27,000 at School of Visual Arts, a difference of $17,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
78% of students finish at Apex Technical School, against 76% at School of Visual Arts. 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.