Head-to-head comparison
Muskingum University vs Art Academy of Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Option A New Concord, OH
Muskingum University
- Net price / year
- $19,532
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,440
- Payback
- 976.6 yrs
Option B Cincinnati, OH
Art Academy of Cincinnati
- Net price / year
- $34,253
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,368
- Payback
- No payback
Muskingum University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $78,128 in 976.6 years versus not at all at Art Academy of Cincinnati, on median earnings of $48,440 vs $34,368 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Muskingum University | Art Academy of Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,532 | $34,253 |
| Total net cost | $78,128 | $137,012 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,440 | $34,368 |
| Median debt | $25,369 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 976.6 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | -$76,528 | -$416,852 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Muskingum University or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Muskingum University, at $19,532 a year after aid versus $34,253 — a gap of $14,721 a year, or $58,884 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 Muskingum University or Art Academy of Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Muskingum University graduates report a median $48,440 ten years after entry, $14,072 more than the $34,368 at Art Academy of Cincinnati. 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, Muskingum University or Art Academy of Cincinnati?
Muskingum University: its completers carry a median $25,369 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Art Academy of Cincinnati, a difference of $1,631. 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?
56% of students finish at Muskingum University, against 41% at Art Academy of Cincinnati. 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.