Head-to-head comparison
Art Center College of Design vs Vanguard University of Southern California: which has better ROI?
Option A Pasadena, CA
Art Center College of Design
- Net price / year
- $48,661
- Earnings, 10 years
- $71,958
- Payback
- 8.2 yrs
Option B Costa Mesa, CA
Vanguard University of Southern California
- Net price / year
- $21,241
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,541
- Payback
- 7.6 yrs
Vanguard University of Southern California has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $84,964 in 7.6 years versus 8.2 years at Art Center College of Design, on median earnings of $59,541 vs $71,958 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Art Center College of Design | Vanguard University of Southern California |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $48,661 | $21,241 |
| Total net cost | $194,644 | $84,964 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $71,958 | $59,541 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $22,000 |
| Payback | 8.2 yrs | 7.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $277,316 | $138,656 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Art Center College of Design or Vanguard University of Southern California?
Vanguard University of Southern California, at $21,241 a year after aid versus $48,661 — a gap of $27,420 a year, or $109,680 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 Art Center College of Design or Vanguard University of Southern California graduates earn more?
Art Center College of Design graduates report a median $71,958 ten years after entry, $12,417 more than the $59,541 at Vanguard University of Southern California. 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, Art Center College of Design or Vanguard University of Southern California?
Vanguard University of Southern California: its completers carry a median $22,000 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Art Center College of Design, a difference of $9,000. 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?
79% of students finish at Art Center College of Design, against 57% at Vanguard University of Southern California. 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.