Head-to-head comparison
Antelope Valley Community College District vs Academy of Art University: which has better ROI?
Option A Lancaster, CA
Antelope Valley Community College District
- Net price / year
- $3,860
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,526
- Payback
- No payback
Option B San Francisco, CA
Academy of Art University
- Net price / year
- $40,613
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,008
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Antelope Valley Community College District comes closer — median earnings $36,526 against a $7,720 total, vs $39,008 at Academy of Art University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Antelope Valley Community College District | Academy of Art University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,860 | $40,613 |
| Total net cost | $7,720 | $162,452 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,526 | $39,008 |
| Median debt | $12,500 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$244,400 | -$349,492 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Antelope Valley Community College District or Academy of Art University?
Antelope Valley Community College District, at $3,860 a year after aid versus $40,613 — a gap of $36,753 a year, or $154,732 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 Antelope Valley Community College District or Academy of Art University graduates earn more?
Academy of Art University graduates report a median $39,008 ten years after entry, $2,482 more than the $36,526 at Antelope Valley Community College District. 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, Antelope Valley Community College District or Academy of Art University?
Antelope Valley Community College District: its completers carry a median $12,500 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Academy of Art University, a difference of $18,500. 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 Antelope Valley Community College District, 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.