Head-to-head comparison
Academy of Art University vs College of the Siskiyous: 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 Weed, CA
College of the Siskiyous
- Net price / year
- $11,120
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,098
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but College of the Siskiyous comes closer — median earnings $39,098 against a $22,240 total, vs $39,008 at Academy of Art University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Academy of Art University | College of the Siskiyous |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $40,613 | $11,120 |
| Total net cost | $162,452 | $22,240 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,008 | $39,098 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $10,750 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$349,492 | -$207,480 |
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 College of the Siskiyous?
College of the Siskiyous, at $11,120 a year after aid versus $40,613 — a gap of $29,493 a year, or $140,212 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 College of the Siskiyous graduates earn more?
College of the Siskiyous graduates report a median $39,098 ten years after entry, $90 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 College of the Siskiyous?
College of the Siskiyous: its completers carry a median $10,750 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Academy of Art University, a difference of $20,250. 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?
34% of students finish at Academy of Art University, against 33% at College of the Siskiyous. 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.