Head-to-head comparison
American Beauty College vs CET-San Jose: 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 Jose, CA
CET-San Jose
- Net price / year
- $16,101
- Earnings, 10 years
- $32,986
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but CET-San Jose comes closer — median earnings $32,986 against a $64,404 total, vs $22,481 at American Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Beauty College | CET-San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,781 | $16,101 |
| Total net cost | $103,124 | $64,404 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $22,481 | $32,986 |
| Median debt | $5,430 | $7,041 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$620,704 | -$371,884 |
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 Jose?
CET-San Jose, at $16,101 a year after aid versus $25,781 — a gap of $9,680 a year, or $38,720 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 Jose graduates earn more?
CET-San Jose 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 Jose?
American Beauty College: its completers carry a median $5,430 in federal loans versus $7,041 at CET-San Jose, 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?
81% of students finish at CET-San Jose, 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.