Head-to-head comparison
Academy of Art University vs San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova: 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 Rancho Cordova, CA
San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova
- Net price / year
- $29,811
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,317
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova comes closer — median earnings $38,317 against a $59,622 total, vs $39,008 at Academy of Art University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Academy of Art University | San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $40,613 | $29,811 |
| Total net cost | $162,452 | $59,622 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,008 | $38,317 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $10,674 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$349,492 | -$260,482 |
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 San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova?
San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova, at $29,811 a year after aid versus $40,613 — a gap of $10,802 a year, or $102,830 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 San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova graduates earn more?
Academy of Art University graduates report a median $39,008 ten years after entry, $691 more than the $38,317 at San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova. 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 San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova?
San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova: its completers carry a median $10,674 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Academy of Art University, a difference of $20,326. 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?
76% of students finish at San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova, 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.