Zane State College vs Art Academy of Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Zane State College comes closer — median earnings $35,006 against a $16,124 total, vs $34,368 at Art Academy of Cincinnati. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Zane State College | Art Academy of Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,062 | $34,253 |
| Total net cost | $16,124 | $137,012 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,006 | $34,368 |
| Median debt | $6,834 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$283,204 | -$416,852 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Zane State College or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Zane State College, at $8,062 a year after aid versus $34,253 — a gap of $26,191 a year, or $120,888 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Zane State College or Art Academy of Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Zane State College graduates report a median $35,006 ten years after entry, $638 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, Zane State College or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Zane State College: its completers carry a median $6,834 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Art Academy of Cincinnati, a difference of $20,166. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
46% of students finish at Zane State 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.