Head-to-head comparison
American Career College-Anaheim vs Associated Technical College-Los Angeles: which has better ROI?
Option A Anaheim, CA
American Career College-Anaheim
- Net price / year
- $31,218
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,430
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Los Angeles, CA
Associated Technical College-Los Angeles
- Net price / year
- $23,629
- Earnings, 10 years
- $24,368
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but American Career College-Anaheim comes closer — median earnings $38,430 against a $124,872 total, vs $24,368 at Associated Technical College-Los Angeles. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Career College-Anaheim | Associated Technical College-Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,218 | $23,629 |
| Total net cost | $124,872 | $94,516 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,430 | $24,368 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$323,472 | -$574,356 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, American Career College-Anaheim or Associated Technical College-Los Angeles?
Associated Technical College-Los Angeles, at $23,629 a year after aid versus $31,218 — a gap of $7,589 a year, or $30,356 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 Career College-Anaheim or Associated Technical College-Los Angeles graduates earn more?
American Career College-Anaheim graduates report a median $38,430 ten years after entry, $14,062 more than the $24,368 at Associated Technical College-Los Angeles. 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 Career College-Anaheim or Associated Technical College-Los Angeles?
Completers at both borrow a median $9,500, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
90% of students finish at Associated Technical College-Los Angeles, against 70% at American Career College-Anaheim. 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.