Head-to-head comparison
Academy of Art University vs California Institute of the Arts: 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 Valencia, CA
California Institute of the Arts
- Net price / year
- $46,080
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,198
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but California Institute of the Arts comes closer — median earnings $41,198 against a $184,320 total, vs $39,008 at Academy of Art University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Academy of Art University | California Institute of the Arts |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $40,613 | $46,080 |
| Total net cost | $162,452 | $184,320 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,008 | $41,198 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$349,492 | -$327,560 |
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 California Institute of the Arts?
Academy of Art University, at $40,613 a year after aid versus $46,080 — a gap of $5,467 a year, or $21,868 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 California Institute of the Arts graduates earn more?
California Institute of the Arts graduates report a median $41,198 ten years after entry, $2,190 more than the $39,008 at Academy of Art University. 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 California Institute of the Arts?
California Institute of the Arts: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Academy of Art University, a difference of $6,000. 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?
67% of students finish at California Institute of the Arts, 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.