Program Analysis
Art Academy of Cincinnati's Design and Applied Arts graduates start at $20,921/yr, trailing the $33,862 national average by 38%. The program's value hinges on affordability.
The financial case is thin at 2.9x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.
Some AI exposure exists in Design and Applied Arts's typical career paths, with 38% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 3% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $25,000 against $20,921/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.2 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.
Ranked #286 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs, Art Academy of Cincinnati falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $37,445 show a 79% jump from the $20,921 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.