Head-to-head comparison
Academy of Art University vs Touro University Worldwide: 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 Los Alamitos, CA
Touro University Worldwide
- Net price / year
- $19,058
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,803
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Touro University Worldwide comes closer — median earnings $40,803 against a $76,232 total, vs $39,008 at Academy of Art University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Academy of Art University | Touro University Worldwide |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $40,613 | $19,058 |
| Total net cost | $162,452 | $76,232 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,008 | $40,803 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$349,492 | -$227,372 |
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 Touro University Worldwide?
Touro University Worldwide, at $19,058 a year after aid versus $40,613 — a gap of $21,555 a year, or $86,220 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 Touro University Worldwide graduates earn more?
Touro University Worldwide graduates report a median $40,803 ten years after entry, $1,795 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 Touro University Worldwide?
Touro University Worldwide: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Academy of Art University, a difference of $6,000. 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 29% at Touro University Worldwide. 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.