Head-to-head comparison
San Diego Mesa College vs Academy of Art University: which has better ROI?
Option A San Diego, CA
San Diego Mesa College
- Net price / year
- $5,814
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,120
- 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 San Diego Mesa College comes closer — median earnings $45,120 against a $11,628 total, vs $39,008 at Academy of Art University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | San Diego Mesa College | Academy of Art University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,814 | $40,613 |
| Total net cost | $11,628 | $162,452 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,120 | $39,008 |
| Median debt | $4,725 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$76,428 | -$349,492 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, San Diego Mesa College or Academy of Art University?
San Diego Mesa College, at $5,814 a year after aid versus $40,613 — a gap of $34,799 a year, or $150,824 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 San Diego Mesa College or Academy of Art University graduates earn more?
San Diego Mesa College graduates report a median $45,120 ten years after entry, $6,112 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 leaves students with less debt, San Diego Mesa College or Academy of Art University?
San Diego Mesa College: its completers carry a median $4,725 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Academy of Art University, a difference of $26,275. 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?
35% of students finish at San Diego Mesa 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.