Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Art Academy of Cincinnati #1413 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn in the 7.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Art Academy of Cincinnati sits in the 2.7 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Art Academy of Cincinnati #1413 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Cincinnati, Ohio, Art Academy of Cincinnati enrolls roughly 205 undergraduates. Retention is 50.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 41.3%, reflecting the institution's ability to support students through completion in a specialized arts discipline. Art Academy of Cincinnati anchors its mission in visual and performing arts education. The institution's program portfolio concentrates in Visual & Performing Arts, preparing graduates for creative careers in design, fine arts, illustration, animation, and related fields. 50.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 30.8% are first-generation college students, positioning the institution as an accessible entry point to arts education for students from diverse economic backgrounds. Where Art Academy of Cincinnati performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Art Academy of Cincinnati #1440 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $18,084 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Art Academy of Cincinnati in the 7.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's strength in translating specialized arts training into sustainable creative careers and related professional pathways. Affordability, access, and mobility sit lower in the composite, reflecting the institution's selective admissions posture and the specialized nature of arts education, where outcomes depend heavily on individual talent, portfolio strength, and post-graduation career navigation in competitive creative fields.
Art Academy of Cincinnati's published cost of attendance is $53,879. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $33,835, mid-low-income families pay around $26,702, middle-income families pay approximately $34,052, mid-high-income families pay around $41,927, and higher-income families pay approximately $36,786. Azimuth ranks Art Academy of Cincinnati #1349 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the headline cost and the debt load graduates carry, as net price and sticker price can differ substantially, but the gap between sticker and net price varies by income level. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $56,204; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $35,735, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Art Academy of Cincinnati is a strong fit for students focused on visual and performing arts who want a small, specialized private college experience in Cincinnati, OH. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $35,735, placing Art Academy of Cincinnati in the 0.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $18,084 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 7.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The school enrolls students from a range of backgrounds — 50.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 30.8% are first-generation. The published cost of attendance is $36,786, and median federal student debt at graduation is $27,000. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Visual & Performing Arts (96% of degrees), and the admission rate is 34.5%. Students whose interests align with these creative fields will find focused training and career preparation.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Art Academy Of Cincinnati hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Art Academy of Cincinnati's published cost of attendance is $53,879. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $33,835, mid-low-income families pay around $26,702, middle-income families pay approximately $34,052, mid-high-income families pay around $41,927, and higher-income families pay approximately $36,786.
Azimuth ranks Art Academy of Cincinnati #1349 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the headline cost and the debt load graduates carry, as [net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), but the gap between sticker and net price varies by income level.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $56,204; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $35,735, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Art Academy of Cincinnati earn median 4-year earnings of $35,735, placing the institution in the 0.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $18,084 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Art Academy of Cincinnati in the 7.3 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Art Academy of Cincinnati #1440 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect the institution's focus on Visual & Performing Arts, a field where career trajectories depend heavily on individual talent, portfolio strength, and market positioning.
The earnings pattern centers on visual and performing arts disciplines. Design and Applied Arts is the largest program with 25 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $42,224, representing 0.8x the national benchmark for the field.
The Fine and Studio Arts program graduates 15 students with median 4-year earnings of $31,166, at 0.8x the national benchmark. As a specialized arts institution, Art Academy of Cincinnati graduates a focused cohort into creative and design-intensive careers, where earnings growth often accelerates as graduates build professional reputation and client networks over the first decade after enrollment.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Central State University Higher acceptance rate (12.9 percentage points higher) and located 54 miles away; similar graduate earnings | OH | 46% | $33,267 | Compare |
Gods Bible School And College Higher acceptance rate (30.9 percentage points higher) and located 1 miles away; similar graduate earnings | OH | 64% | $37,722 | Compare |
Kentucky State University Higher acceptance rate (59.4 percentage points higher) and located 65 miles away; similar graduate earnings | KY | 93% | $36,382 | Compare |
Pacific Northwest College Of Art Higher acceptance rate (35.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | OR | 69% | $34,883 | Compare |
Cornish College Of The Arts Higher acceptance rate (37.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | WA | 70% | $33,696 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
St. John's College Similar quality tier (#36238 ranked) | MD | 55% | $51,584 | #36238 | Compare |
Southern California Institute Of Architecture Similar quality tier (#36231 ranked) | CA | 77% | $71,909 | #36231 | Compare |
Florida College Similar quality tier (#36245 ranked) | FL | 70% | $43,445 | #36245 | Compare |
The Juilliard School Similar quality tier (#36227 ranked) | NY | 9% | $37,827 | #36227 | Compare |
Blue Mountain Christian University Similar quality tier (#36248 ranked) | MS | 89% | $40,421 | #36248 | Compare |
Design and Applied Arts
25 graduates
Fine and Studio Arts
15 graduates
Art Academy of Cincinnati's program portfolio is concentrated in visual and performing arts—a signature aligned with the institution's specialized mission as a fine-arts conservatory. Design and Applied Arts is the largest program with 25 graduates annually, followed by Fine and Studio Arts with 15 graduates.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 40 students, the institution's strength concentrates in studio and performance-based disciplines where four-year earnings reflect early-career outcomes in creative fields. The earnings pattern reflects the specialized nature of arts education.
Design and Applied Arts leads with median earnings of $42,224 four years after enrollment, with 25 graduates. Fine and Studio Arts follows with median earnings of $31,166 and 15 graduates.
These figures represent early-career outcomes in fields where income trajectories often extend beyond the four-year window as graduates establish professional practices, build client bases, or transition into teaching and arts administration roles. The institution's program mix—anchored in Arts at 96% of degrees—reflects a deliberate focus on studio-based and performance disciplines.
For students pursuing careers in visual arts, design, performance, and related creative fields, the [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these disciplines align with labor-market pathways. Many graduates from arts conservatories pursue graduate study, freelance creative work, or positions in arts administration and education—outcomes that four-year earnings alone may not fully capture.
