Head-to-head comparison
Academy of Art University vs National Career Education: 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 Citrus Heights, CA
National Career Education
- Net price / year
- $25,380
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,015
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but National Career Education comes closer — median earnings $38,015 against a $101,520 total, vs $39,008 at Academy of Art University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Academy of Art University | National Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $40,613 | $25,380 |
| Total net cost | $162,452 | $101,520 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,008 | $38,015 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $7,853 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$349,492 | -$308,420 |
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 National Career Education?
National Career Education, at $25,380 a year after aid versus $40,613 — a gap of $15,233 a year, or $60,932 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 National Career Education graduates earn more?
Academy of Art University graduates report a median $39,008 ten years after entry, $993 more than the $38,015 at National Career Education. 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 National Career Education?
National Career Education: its completers carry a median $7,853 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Academy of Art University, a difference of $23,147. 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?
83% of students finish at National Career Education, 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.