Head-to-head comparison
American Career College-Anaheim vs North Adrian's College of Beauty Inc: 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 Modesto, CA
North Adrian's College of Beauty Inc
- Net price / year
- $16,561
- Earnings, 10 years
- $27,269
- 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 $27,269 at North Adrian's College of Beauty Inc. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Career College-Anaheim | North Adrian's College of Beauty Inc |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,218 | $16,561 |
| Total net cost | $124,872 | $66,244 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,430 | $27,269 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $11,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$323,472 | -$488,064 |
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 North Adrian's College of Beauty Inc?
North Adrian's College of Beauty Inc, at $16,561 a year after aid versus $31,218 — a gap of $14,657 a year, or $58,628 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 North Adrian's College of Beauty Inc graduates earn more?
American Career College-Anaheim graduates report a median $38,430 ten years after entry, $11,161 more than the $27,269 at North Adrian's College of Beauty Inc. 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 North Adrian's College of Beauty Inc?
American Career College-Anaheim: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $11,000 at North Adrian's College of Beauty Inc, a difference of $1,500. 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?
70% of students finish at American Career College-Anaheim, against 70% at North Adrian's College of Beauty Inc. 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.