Head-to-head comparison
American Beauty College vs CET-San Diego: which has better ROI?
Option A West Covina, CA
American Beauty College
- Net price / year
- $25,781
- Earnings, 10 years
- $22,481
- Payback
- No payback
Option B San Diego, CA
CET-San Diego
- Net price / year
- $22,035
- Earnings, 10 years
- $32,986
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but CET-San Diego comes closer — median earnings $32,986 against a $88,140 total, vs $22,481 at American Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Beauty College | CET-San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,781 | $22,035 |
| Total net cost | $103,124 | $88,140 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $22,481 | $32,986 |
| Median debt | $5,430 | $7,041 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$620,704 | -$395,620 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, American Beauty College or CET-San Diego?
CET-San Diego, at $22,035 a year after aid versus $25,781 — a gap of $3,746 a year, or $14,984 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do American Beauty College or CET-San Diego graduates earn more?
CET-San Diego graduates report a median $32,986 ten years after entry, $10,505 more than the $22,481 at American Beauty College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, American Beauty College or CET-San Diego?
American Beauty College: its completers carry a median $5,430 in federal loans versus $7,041 at CET-San Diego, a difference of $1,611. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
87% of students finish at CET-San Diego, against 69% at American Beauty College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.