Wilmington College vs Art Academy of Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Wilmington College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $96,612 in 737.5 years versus not at all at Art Academy of Cincinnati, on median earnings of $48,491 vs $34,368 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wilmington College | Art Academy of Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,153 | $34,253 |
| Total net cost | $96,612 | $137,012 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,491 | $34,368 |
| Median debt | $24,208 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 737.5 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | -$93,992 | -$416,852 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Wilmington College or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Wilmington College, at $24,153 a year after aid versus $34,253 — a gap of $10,100 a year, or $40,400 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Wilmington College or Art Academy of Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Wilmington College graduates report a median $48,491 ten years after entry, $14,123 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, Wilmington College or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Wilmington College: its completers carry a median $24,208 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Art Academy of Cincinnati, a difference of $2,792. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
47% of students finish at Wilmington 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.