Head-to-head comparison
American River College vs American Beauty College: which has better ROI?
Option A Sacramento, CA
American River College
- Net price / year
- $7,999
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,162
- Payback
- No payback
Option B West Covina, CA
American Beauty College
- Net price / year
- $25,781
- Earnings, 10 years
- $22,481
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but American River College comes closer — median earnings $40,162 against a $15,998 total, vs $22,481 at American Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American River College | American Beauty College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,999 | $25,781 |
| Total net cost | $15,998 | $103,124 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,162 | $22,481 |
| Median debt | $9,625 | $5,430 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$179,958 | -$620,704 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, American River College or American Beauty College?
American River College, at $7,999 a year after aid versus $25,781 — a gap of $17,782 a year, or $87,126 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 River College or American Beauty College graduates earn more?
American River College graduates report a median $40,162 ten years after entry, $17,681 more than the $22,481 at American Beauty College. 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 River College or American Beauty College?
American Beauty College: its completers carry a median $5,430 in federal loans versus $9,625 at American River College, a difference of $4,195. 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?
69% of students finish at American Beauty College, against 37% at American River 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.