Head-to-head comparison
California Institute of the Arts vs American Beauty College: which has better ROI?
Option A Valencia, CA
California Institute of the Arts
- Net price / year
- $46,080
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,198
- 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 California Institute of the Arts comes closer — median earnings $41,198 against a $184,320 total, vs $22,481 at American Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | California Institute of the Arts | American Beauty College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $46,080 | $25,781 |
| Total net cost | $184,320 | $103,124 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,198 | $22,481 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $5,430 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$327,560 | -$620,704 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, California Institute of the Arts or American Beauty College?
American Beauty College, at $25,781 a year after aid versus $46,080 — a gap of $20,299 a year, or $81,196 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 California Institute of the Arts or American Beauty College graduates earn more?
California Institute of the Arts graduates report a median $41,198 ten years after entry, $18,717 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, California Institute of the Arts or American Beauty College?
American Beauty College: its completers carry a median $5,430 in federal loans versus $25,000 at California Institute of the Arts, a difference of $19,570. 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 67% at California Institute of the Arts. 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.