Skip to main content
CollegeROIData

Academy of Art University vs Alabama A & M University

Side-by-side college ROI comparison from College Scorecard data

Reviewed by CollegeROIData Editorial Team · Updated

Verdict

Academy of Art University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Alabama A & M University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Academy of Art University at $29,980 vs Alabama A & M University at $26,128. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $53,278 vs $60,950.

MetricAcademy of Art UniversityAlabama A & M University
Graduation Rate100.0%100.0%
School TypePrivatePublic
StateCaAl
Avg Median Debt
Average median debt across all tracked majors
$29,980$26,128*
Avg 1yr Earnings
Average first-year earnings across all tracked majors
$53,278$60,950*
Majors Tracked1820
Best ROI MajorComputer Software and Media Applications (94/100)Computer and Information Sciences (95/100)*
Best Major Debt$25,483$22,896*
Best Major 1yr Earnings$95,000$95,000

Academy of Art University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Alabama A & M University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Academy of Art University at $29,980 vs Alabama A & M University at $26,128. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $53,278 vs $60,950.

Explore More

Completion rates run close at the two schools: 100.0% versus 100.0%. When graduation probability is comparable across both options, the decision comes down to cost and post-graduation earnings rather than degree-completion risk.

Average median debt is roughly even across Academy of Art University and Alabama A & M University. The cost side of the comparison effectively cancels out; the meaningful question becomes whether the program mix and the earnings outcomes differ enough to break the tie.

Median first-year earnings sit moderately apart at Academy of Art University and Alabama A & M University. The school with stronger earnings has a real edge for high-cost-of-living markets where the absolute dollar figure matters; the school with lower earnings can still be the better choice in markets where the cost-of-living differential more than offsets the income gap.

Academy of Art University sits in Ca and Alabama A & M University in Al. The geographic spread matters for cost (in-state vs. out-of-state tuition typically diverges sharply at public schools) and for post-graduation labor market (most schools place students primarily into regional employers). Cross-state comparisons should account for the residency-cost differential at any public option and the labor-market trajectory each campus connects students to.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.