Head-to-head comparison
Chapman University vs Art Center College of Design: which has better ROI?
Option A Orange, CA
Chapman University
- Net price / year
- $46,555
- Earnings, 10 years
- $70,070
- Payback
- 8.6 yrs
Option B Pasadena, CA
Art Center College of Design
- Net price / year
- $48,661
- Earnings, 10 years
- $71,958
- Payback
- 8.2 yrs
Art Center College of Design has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $194,644 in 8.2 years versus 8.6 years at Chapman University, on median earnings of $71,958 vs $70,070 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Chapman University | Art Center College of Design |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $46,555 | $48,661 |
| Total net cost | $186,220 | $194,644 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $70,070 | $71,958 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $31,000 |
| Payback | 8.6 yrs | 8.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $247,980 | $277,316 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Chapman University or Art Center College of Design?
Chapman University, at $46,555 a year after aid versus $48,661 — a gap of $2,106 a year, or $8,424 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 Chapman University or Art Center College of Design graduates earn more?
Art Center College of Design graduates report a median $71,958 ten years after entry, $1,888 more than the $70,070 at Chapman 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, Chapman University or Art Center College of Design?
Chapman University: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Art Center College of Design, a difference of $10,500. 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?
82% of students finish at Chapman University, against 79% at Art Center College of Design. 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.