Nossi College of Art and Design
Nashville, Tennessee · Private For-Profit · 46.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 6/100 · Poor Value
Nossi College of Art and Design earns a Poor Value tier with an ROI score of 6 out of 100, the lowest score in this batch and emblematic of the structural problems with for-profit specialty art schools. The Nashville, Tennessee for-profit posts a sticker tuition of $20,350 with a $24,044 net price (a flag: net price exceeds tuition because room, board, and required fees push total costs above the headline number). Four-year cost-of-attendance lands at $96,176. The headline failure metric is a 2,090-year payback period: this is essentially the algorithm's way of saying the degree never recoups its cost in any reasonable working life. Median 6-year earnings of just $24,400 against $33,498 median debt produces a 1.373 debt-to-earnings ratio: graduates owe nearly 1.4 times what they earn in their first year out. Median 10-year earnings climb only to $35,113. The 41.8% completion rate is poor, and the 41.8% three-year repayment rate (identical, oddly) is among the worst in the database. With only one program reported (Design and Applied Arts) and that program carrying an F ROI grade with a 1.898 debt-to-earnings ratio, the financial case for Nossi is essentially absent.
The data raises concerns about Nossi College of Art and Design
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score6/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Debt-to-earnings1.37 - Advisors recommend total student debt stay below one year of salary (ratio under 1.0).
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers — the cost may not recoup within a working career.
Nossi College of Art and Design
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $20,350/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $20,350/yr |
| Average net price | $24,044/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $96,176 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $35,113 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $24,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $33,498 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $355 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 41.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 247 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Nossi College of Art and Design is $20,350/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $24,044/year, or roughly $96,176 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $23,099/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay N/A/year.
The median graduate leaves with $33,498 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $355 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $35,113 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 1.37 - above the recommended threshold where total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $23,099 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $23,454 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $24,646 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,098 |
| $110,001+ | N/A |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-30K pay $23,099 net annually, with $30,001-48,000 households paying slightly more at $23,454. Four-year burden of $92K-$94K against $24,400 expected early-career earnings is structurally unworkable. Pell-eligible students should not enroll without first evaluating community college transfer pathways and Tennessee public art programs.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income brackets pay $24,646 to $27,098 net annually, putting four-year costs at $99K-$108K. The math is essentially impossible at this income level given the earnings ceiling. Tennessee residents have access to the HOPE Scholarship and Tennessee Reconnect programs that materially reduce public-college costs.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The $110,001-plus bracket is not reported, indicating effectively no high-income students attend. Self-paying high-income families should not consider Nossi at this price point versus regional public alternatives or stronger residential art programs.
Earnings by Major
Top 1 most popular majors at Nossi College of Art and Design with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts | $35,075 | F |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Design and Applied Arts
Design and Applied Arts is Nossi's only reported program with 31 graduates per year. First-year median earnings of $24,497 against $46,500 median debt creates a 1.898 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F ROI grade. Year-four earnings of $35,075 show only modest improvement. The combination of high debt and low earnings produces one of the worst payback profiles in the database. Nashville's creative economy has roles for design talent, but the same career outcomes are accessible through Tennessee public alternatives at a fraction of the cost.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 39.5% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 41.8% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 37.9% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 35.4% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 46.3% |
| Enrollment | 247 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 57.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,917 |
Nossi College admits 46.3% of applicants, which on paper looks moderately selective but in practice reflects portfolio review for art and design fit rather than academic credentials. SAT and ACT scores are not reported in current Scorecard data, consistent with art-focused for-profits that don't require standardized testing. The 41.8% completion rate combined with this admissions profile reflects an art-school enrollment model where many students discover the financial reality and leave before completing.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Among Nossi's peer set, Strayer University-Tennessee and the South University network locations are direct for-profit comparables in similar bottom-tier ROI territory. Eagle Gate College in Layton, Utah is another for-profit specialty school peer. None of these institutions produce strong outcomes; the for-profit specialty sector as a whole faces consistent severe outcome challenges. Nossi's 6 ROI score is at the very bottom of even this stressed peer group.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nossi College of Art and Design (this school) | 6 | $24,044 | $35,113 |
| California College of ASU | 14 | $17,683 | $42,014 |
| Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts | 14 | $42,454 | $29,881 |
| Montserrat College of Art | 13 | $33,216 | $33,022 |
| Art Academy of Cincinnati | 9 | $34,253 | $34,368 |
| Pacific Northwest College of Art | 7 | $35,785 | $34,883 |
Who Thrives Here
Nossi College fits Nashville-area students with strong creative interests and limited financial resources who haven't fully evaluated alternatives. With just 247 enrolled and a 57.3% Pell rate, the institution serves a heavily working-class student body. The fundamental issue is the financial structure: students leave with $33K+ in debt against $24K early-career earnings, an unworkable picture for nearly any career outcome. Art-bound students should evaluate Middle Tennessee State, Watkins (now part of Belmont), or community college transfer paths first.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Nossi College of Art and Design. With a net cost of $24,044 per year and median graduate earnings of only $35,113 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 41.8% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $33,498 against $35,113 in earnings is concerning. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.95 exceeds the commonly recommended threshold. Major choice is critical here.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.