Head-to-head comparison
American Career College-Los Angeles vs Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa: 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 Costa Mesa, CA
Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa
- Net price / year
- $21,920
- Earnings, 10 years
- $26,897
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but American Career College-Los Angeles comes closer — median earnings $38,430 against a $129,632 total, vs $26,897 at Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Career College-Los Angeles | Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $32,408 | $21,920 |
| Total net cost | $129,632 | $87,680 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,430 | $26,897 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $13,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$328,232 | -$516,940 |
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 Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa?
Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa, at $21,920 a year after aid versus $32,408 — a gap of $10,488 a year, or $41,952 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 Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa graduates earn more?
American Career College-Los Angeles graduates report a median $38,430 ten years after entry, $11,533 more than the $26,897 at Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa. 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 Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa?
American Career College-Los Angeles: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $13,000 at Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa, a difference of $3,500. 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?
82% of students finish at Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa, against 75% at American Career College-Los Angeles. 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.