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Career Networks Institute — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private for-profit · Santa Ana, CA · 1,133 students

The verdict

Career Networks Institute charges a net price of $49,677/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $99,354. Median earnings ten years after entry are $45,256, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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On institution-wide earnings, Career Networks Institute does not clear its cost — it ranks #175 of 334 California colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.

$49,677
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$45,256
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
Payback
Our math, 2026
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Career Networks Institute: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$49,677/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (2 yrs)$99,354our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$45,256Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$-3,104/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$25,899Scorecard, 2026
Paybackdoes not clearour math
20-year net return$-161,434our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

How we compute this. Payback = total net cost ÷ annual earnings premium, where the premium is median earnings 10 years after entry minus the $48,360 baseline (BLS 2024 median for a high-school-diploma worker 25+). Total net cost = net price × 2 years. We do not discount future dollars. The institution-wide earnings figure blends every major — a specific program's payback can be far better or worse. Full method on the methodology page.

Career Networks Institute: frequently asked questions

Is Career Networks Institute worth the cost?
On institution-wide earnings, the degree does not clear its cost: graduates earn a median $45,256, at or below the $48,360 high-school baseline. The field you study matters far more here than the school average — a high-paying major can flip the math.
How long does a Career Networks Institute degree take to pay off?
On institution-wide earnings it does not pay back, because median earnings sit at or below the $48,360 high-school baseline. A specific high-ROI program can still pay off.
How much does Career Networks Institute cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $49,677/yr — about $99,354 over 2 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Career Networks Institute compare to other California colleges?
It ranks #175 of 334 California colleges we track by payback. Its $45,256 median earnings beat the national median of $43,552, and its $49,677 net price is above the national median of $16,906.