Head-to-head comparison
Solano Community College vs Academy of Art University: which has better ROI?
Option A Fairfield, CA
Solano Community College
- Net price / year
- $4,669
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,170
- 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 Solano Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,170 against a $9,338 total, vs $39,008 at Academy of Art University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Solano Community College | Academy of Art University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,669 | $40,613 |
| Total net cost | $9,338 | $162,452 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,170 | $39,008 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$93,138 | -$349,492 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Solano Community College or Academy of Art University?
Solano Community College, at $4,669 a year after aid versus $40,613 — a gap of $35,944 a year, or $153,114 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 Solano Community College or Academy of Art University graduates earn more?
Solano Community College graduates report a median $44,170 ten years after entry, $5,162 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, Solano Community College or Academy of Art University?
Solano Community College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Academy of Art University, a difference of $19,000. 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?
36% of students finish at Solano Community 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.