Head-to-head comparison
American Beauty College vs Paul Mitchell the School-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
Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego
- Net price / year
- $35,975
- Earnings, 10 years
- $26,897
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego comes closer — median earnings $26,897 against a $143,900 total, vs $22,481 at American Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Beauty College | Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,781 | $35,975 |
| Total net cost | $103,124 | $143,900 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $22,481 | $26,897 |
| Median debt | $5,430 | $13,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$620,704 | -$573,160 |
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 Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego?
American Beauty College, at $25,781 a year after aid versus $35,975 — a gap of $10,194 a year, or $40,776 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 Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego graduates earn more?
Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego graduates report a median $26,897 ten years after entry, $4,416 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 Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego?
American Beauty College: its completers carry a median $5,430 in federal loans versus $13,000 at Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego, a difference of $7,570. 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?
99% of students finish at Paul Mitchell the School-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.