Head-to-head comparison
Academy of Art University vs South Coast 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 Orange, CA
South Coast College
- Net price / year
- $16,534
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,897
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but South Coast College comes closer — median earnings $44,897 against a $66,136 total, vs $39,008 at Academy of Art University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Academy of Art University | South Coast College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $40,613 | $16,534 |
| Total net cost | $162,452 | $66,136 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,008 | $44,897 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $20,938 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$349,492 | -$135,396 |
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 South Coast College?
South Coast College, at $16,534 a year after aid versus $40,613 — a gap of $24,079 a year, or $96,316 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 South Coast College graduates earn more?
South Coast College graduates report a median $44,897 ten years after entry, $5,889 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 South Coast College?
South Coast College: its completers carry a median $20,938 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Academy of Art University, a difference of $10,062. 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 17% at South Coast 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.