Head-to-head comparison
Academy of Art University vs Barstow Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A San Francisco, CA
Academy of Art University
- Net price / year
- $40,613
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,008
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Barstow, CA
Barstow Community College
- Net price / year
- $12,773
- Earnings, 10 years
- $35,104
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Barstow Community College comes closer — median earnings $35,104 against a $51,092 total, vs $39,008 at Academy of Art University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Academy of Art University | Barstow Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $40,613 | $12,773 |
| Total net cost | $162,452 | $51,092 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,008 | $35,104 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $3,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$349,492 | -$316,212 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Academy of Art University or Barstow Community College?
Barstow Community College, at $12,773 a year after aid versus $40,613 — a gap of $27,840 a year, or $111,360 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Academy of Art University or Barstow Community College graduates earn more?
Academy of Art University graduates report a median $39,008 ten years after entry, $3,904 more than the $35,104 at Barstow Community College. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Academy of Art University or Barstow Community College?
Barstow Community College: its completers carry a median $3,500 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Academy of Art University, a difference of $27,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
39% of students finish at Barstow Community College, against 34% at Academy of Art University. 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.