Head-to-head comparison
College of the Redwoods vs Academy of Art University: which has better ROI?
Option A Eureka, CA
College of the Redwoods
- Net price / year
- $6,904
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,243
- 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 College of the Redwoods comes closer — median earnings $36,243 against a $13,808 total, vs $39,008 at Academy of Art University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of the Redwoods | Academy of Art University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,904 | $40,613 |
| Total net cost | $13,808 | $162,452 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,243 | $39,008 |
| Median debt | $8,080 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$256,148 | -$349,492 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, College of the Redwoods or Academy of Art University?
College of the Redwoods, at $6,904 a year after aid versus $40,613 — a gap of $33,709 a year, or $148,644 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 College of the Redwoods or Academy of Art University graduates earn more?
Academy of Art University graduates report a median $39,008 ten years after entry, $2,765 more than the $36,243 at College of the Redwoods. 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, College of the Redwoods or Academy of Art University?
College of the Redwoods: its completers carry a median $8,080 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Academy of Art University, a difference of $22,920. 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 34% at College of the Redwoods. 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.