Head-to-head comparison
Academy of Art University vs CET-San Diego: 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 San Diego, CA
CET-San Diego
- Net price / year
- $22,035
- Earnings, 10 years
- $32,986
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Academy of Art University comes closer — median earnings $39,008 against a $162,452 total, vs $32,986 at CET-San Diego. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Academy of Art University | CET-San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $40,613 | $22,035 |
| Total net cost | $162,452 | $88,140 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,008 | $32,986 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $7,041 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$349,492 | -$395,620 |
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 CET-San Diego?
CET-San Diego, at $22,035 a year after aid versus $40,613 — a gap of $18,578 a year, or $74,312 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 CET-San Diego graduates earn more?
Academy of Art University graduates report a median $39,008 ten years after entry, $6,022 more than the $32,986 at CET-San Diego. 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 CET-San Diego?
CET-San Diego: its completers carry a median $7,041 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Academy of Art University, a difference of $23,959. 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?
87% of students finish at CET-San Diego, 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.