Head-to-head comparison
American Career College-Los Angeles vs North-West College-San Diego: 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 San Diego, CA
North-West College-San Diego
- Net price / year
- $46,503
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,472
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but North-West College-San Diego comes closer — median earnings $41,472 against a $93,006 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Los Angeles. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Career College-Los Angeles | North-West College-San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $32,408 | $46,503 |
| Total net cost | $129,632 | $93,006 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,430 | $41,472 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$328,232 | -$230,766 |
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 North-West College-San Diego?
American Career College-Los Angeles, at $32,408 a year after aid versus $46,503 — a gap of $14,095 a year, or $36,626 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 North-West College-San Diego graduates earn more?
North-West College-San Diego graduates report a median $41,472 ten years after entry, $3,042 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 North-West College-San Diego?
Completers at both borrow a median $9,500, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.