Academy of Art University vs Alice Lloyd College
Side-by-side college ROI comparison from College Scorecard data
Verdict
Academy of Art University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Alice Lloyd College at 100.0%. Average median debt: Academy of Art University at $29,980 vs Alice Lloyd College at $19,438. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $53,278 vs $52,462.
| Metric | Academy of Art University | Alice Lloyd College |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| School Type | Private | Private |
| State | Ca | Ky |
| Avg Median Debt Average median debt across all tracked majors | $29,980 | $19,438* |
| Avg 1yr Earnings Average first-year earnings across all tracked majors | $53,278* | $52,462 |
| Majors Tracked | 18 | 13 |
| Best ROI Major | Computer Software and Media Applications (94/100)* | Business/Commerce (80/100) |
| Best Major Debt | $25,483 | $19,144* |
| Best Major 1yr Earnings | $95,000* | $65,000 |
Academy of Art University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Alice Lloyd College at 100.0%. Average median debt: Academy of Art University at $29,980 vs Alice Lloyd College at $19,438. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $53,278 vs $52,462.
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Academy of Art University and Alice Lloyd College graduate students at similar rates — 100.0% and 100.0% respectively. With completion rates comparable, the comparison reduces to cost, earnings, and program mix; the institutional-effect-on-completion question essentially nets out.
Average median debt: Alice Lloyd College at $19,438, the other option at $29,980. That's a wide enough spread that the debt-service burden in the first ten years after graduation differs by hundreds of dollars per month, which matters for housing affordability, savings rate, and the ability to pursue lower-paying entry-level work in a chosen field.
Earnings outcomes track closely — Academy of Art University and Alice Lloyd College graduates report similar first-year wages. The school decision in cases like this is usually decided on non-financial axes (program quality, geography, fit) since the ROI math runs close enough to be inside the noise.
Academy of Art University sits in Ca and Alice Lloyd College in Ky. 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.