Stark State College vs Art Academy of Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Stark State College comes closer — median earnings $34,661 against a $23,944 total, vs $34,368 at Art Academy of Cincinnati. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Stark State College | Art Academy of Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,986 | $34,253 |
| Total net cost | $23,944 | $137,012 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,661 | $34,368 |
| Median debt | $13,786 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$297,924 | -$416,852 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Stark State College or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Stark State College, at $5,986 a year after aid versus $34,253 — a gap of $28,267 a year, or $113,068 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Stark State College or Art Academy of Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Stark State College graduates report a median $34,661 ten years after entry, $293 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, Stark State College or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Stark State College: its completers carry a median $13,786 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Art Academy of Cincinnati, a difference of $13,214. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
41% of students finish at Art Academy of Cincinnati, against 23% at Stark State 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.