Head-to-head comparison
American Career College-Los Angeles vs California Institute of the Arts: which has better ROI?
Option A Los Angeles, CA
American Career College-Los Angeles
- Net price / year
- $32,408
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,430
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Valencia, CA
California Institute of the Arts
- Net price / year
- $46,080
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,198
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but California Institute of the Arts comes closer — median earnings $41,198 against a $184,320 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Los Angeles. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Career College-Los Angeles | California Institute of the Arts |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $32,408 | $46,080 |
| Total net cost | $129,632 | $184,320 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,430 | $41,198 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $25,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$328,232 | -$327,560 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, American Career College-Los Angeles or California Institute of the Arts?
American Career College-Los Angeles, at $32,408 a year after aid versus $46,080 — a gap of $13,672 a year, or $54,688 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-Los Angeles or California Institute of the Arts graduates earn more?
California Institute of the Arts graduates report a median $41,198 ten years after entry, $2,768 more than the $38,430 at American Career 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-Los Angeles or California Institute of the Arts?
American Career College-Los Angeles: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $25,000 at California Institute of the Arts, a difference of $15,500. 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?
75% of students finish at American Career College-Los Angeles, against 67% at California Institute of the Arts. 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.