Head-to-head comparison
American Career College-Los Angeles vs Carrington College-Stockton: 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 Stockton, CA
Carrington College-Stockton
- Net price / year
- $37,481
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,633
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Carrington College-Stockton comes closer — median earnings $39,633 against a $149,924 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Los Angeles. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Career College-Los Angeles | Carrington College-Stockton |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $32,408 | $37,481 |
| Total net cost | $129,632 | $149,924 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,430 | $39,633 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $11,537 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$328,232 | -$324,464 |
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 Carrington College-Stockton?
American Career College-Los Angeles, at $32,408 a year after aid versus $37,481 — a gap of $5,073 a year, or $20,292 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 Carrington College-Stockton graduates earn more?
Carrington College-Stockton graduates report a median $39,633 ten years after entry, $1,203 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 Carrington College-Stockton?
American Career College-Los Angeles: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $11,537 at Carrington College-Stockton, a difference of $2,037. 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 54% at Carrington College-Stockton. 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.