Head-to-head comparison
American Career College-Anaheim vs Bellus Academy-Poway: 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 Poway, CA
Bellus Academy-Poway
- Net price / year
- $32,767
- Earnings, 10 years
- $25,223
- 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 $25,223 at Bellus Academy-Poway. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Career College-Anaheim | Bellus Academy-Poway |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,218 | $32,767 |
| Total net cost | $124,872 | $131,068 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,430 | $25,223 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $7,917 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$323,472 | -$593,808 |
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 Bellus Academy-Poway?
American Career College-Anaheim, at $31,218 a year after aid versus $32,767 — a gap of $1,549 a year, or $6,196 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 Bellus Academy-Poway graduates earn more?
American Career College-Anaheim graduates report a median $38,430 ten years after entry, $13,207 more than the $25,223 at Bellus Academy-Poway. 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 Bellus Academy-Poway?
Bellus Academy-Poway: its completers carry a median $7,917 in federal loans versus $9,500 at American Career College-Anaheim, a difference of $1,583. 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?
73% of students finish at Bellus Academy-Poway, 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.