Head-to-head comparison
American Career College-Anaheim vs Summit College: 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 San Bernardino, CA
Summit College
- Net price / year
- $29,926
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,187
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Summit College comes closer — median earnings $40,187 against a $119,704 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Anaheim. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Career College-Anaheim | Summit College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,218 | $29,926 |
| Total net cost | $124,872 | $119,704 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,430 | $40,187 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $7,600 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$323,472 | -$283,164 |
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 Summit College?
Summit College, at $29,926 a year after aid versus $31,218 — a gap of $1,292 a year, or $5,168 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 Summit College graduates earn more?
Summit College graduates report a median $40,187 ten years after entry, $1,757 more than the $38,430 at American Career College-Anaheim. 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 Summit College?
Summit College: its completers carry a median $7,600 in federal loans versus $9,500 at American Career College-Anaheim, a difference of $1,900. 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 62% at Summit 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.