College ROI

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Academy of Art University

San Francisco, CA 4,131 Undergrads 27.8% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$47,195
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$39,778
After Aid
Median Earnings
$39,008
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$39,778
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$39,008
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate27.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients42.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time52.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS50.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$347k
-$49k
-$137k
Median Cost$40k/yr
+$204k
-$193k
-$281k
Full Cost$47k/yr
+$177k
-$219k
-$307k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$40k/yr
Never
-162%
Full Cost$47k/yr
Never
-150%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return-126%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 2%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-25%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Associate's Degrees

Design and Applied Arts
AssocCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$31,937
Earnings (5yr)
$43,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
AssocCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$32,187
Earnings (5yr)
$36,174
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Graphic Communications
AssocCIP: 1003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,019
Lifetime Value Added
-$235k

Bachelor's Degrees

Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,810
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,742
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Computer Software and Media Applications
BachCIP: 1108
Median Debt
$36,750
Earnings (5yr)
$78,524
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$31,500
Earnings (5yr)
$57,948
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$30,666
Earnings (5yr)
$19,276
Lifetime Value Added
-$444k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$33,812
Earnings (5yr)
$39,174
Lifetime Value Added
-$273k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$39,570
Earnings (5yr)
$33,830
Lifetime Value Added
-$318k
Graphic Communications
BachCIP: 1003
Median Debt
$31,125
Earnings (5yr)
$54,175
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$29,910
Earnings (5yr)
$38,890
Lifetime Value Added
-$275k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$75,583
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BachCIP: 5001
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (5yr)
$39,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$270k

Master's Degrees

Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$76,223
Lifetime Value Added
+$162k
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,971
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Computer Software and Media Applications
MastCIP: 1108
Median Debt
$71,352
Earnings (5yr)
$115,316
Lifetime Value Added
+$498k
Design and Applied Arts
MastCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$93,267
Earnings (5yr)
$58,596
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
MastCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$113,213
Earnings (5yr)
$53,584
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$91,156
Earnings (5yr)
$40,069
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Graphic Communications
MastCIP: 1003
Median Debt
$83,224
Earnings (5yr)
$67,772
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,287
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
MastCIP: 0909
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$86,405
Lifetime Value Added
+$250k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
MastCIP: 5001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.