Head-to-head comparison
American River College vs Cosumnes River 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 Sacramento, CA
Cosumnes River College
- Net price / year
- $5,981
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,446
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cosumnes River College comes closer — median earnings $42,446 against a $11,962 total, vs $40,162 at American River College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American River College | Cosumnes River College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,999 | $5,981 |
| Total net cost | $15,998 | $11,962 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,162 | $42,446 |
| Median debt | $9,625 | $10,722 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$179,958 | -$130,242 |
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 Cosumnes River College?
Cosumnes River College, at $5,981 a year after aid versus $7,999 — a gap of $2,018 a year, or $4,036 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 Cosumnes River College graduates earn more?
Cosumnes River College graduates report a median $42,446 ten years after entry, $2,284 more than the $40,162 at American River 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 Cosumnes River College?
American River College: its completers carry a median $9,625 in federal loans versus $10,722 at Cosumnes River College, a difference of $1,097. 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?
40% of students finish at Cosumnes River 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.