Head-to-head comparison
Hartnell College vs Academy of Art University: which has better ROI?
Option A Salinas, CA
Hartnell College
- Net price / year
- $2,039
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,316
- 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 Hartnell College comes closer — median earnings $44,316 against a $4,078 total, vs $39,008 at Academy of Art University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Hartnell College | Academy of Art University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $2,039 | $40,613 |
| Total net cost | $4,078 | $162,452 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,316 | $39,008 |
| Median debt | — | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$84,958 | -$349,492 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Hartnell College or Academy of Art University?
Hartnell College, at $2,039 a year after aid versus $40,613 — a gap of $38,574 a year, or $158,374 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 Hartnell College or Academy of Art University graduates earn more?
Hartnell College graduates report a median $44,316 ten years after entry, $5,308 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 graduates more of its students?
40% of students finish at Hartnell College, 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.