Head-to-head comparison
Academy of Art University vs Mendocino 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 Ukiah, CA
Mendocino College
- Net price / year
- $8,330
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,243
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Mendocino College comes closer — median earnings $40,243 against a $16,660 total, vs $39,008 at Academy of Art University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Academy of Art University | Mendocino College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $40,613 | $8,330 |
| Total net cost | $162,452 | $16,660 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,008 | $40,243 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $10,836 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$349,492 | -$179,000 |
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 Mendocino College?
Mendocino College, at $8,330 a year after aid versus $40,613 — a gap of $32,283 a year, or $145,792 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 Mendocino College graduates earn more?
Mendocino College graduates report a median $40,243 ten years after entry, $1,235 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 Mendocino College?
Mendocino College: its completers carry a median $10,836 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Academy of Art University, a difference of $20,164. 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 25% at Mendocino College. 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.