Head-to-head comparison
Cerro Coso Community College vs American Career College-Anaheim: which has better ROI?
Option A Ridgecrest, CA
Cerro Coso Community College
- Net price / year
- $18,306
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,963
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Anaheim, CA
American Career College-Anaheim
- Net price / year
- $31,218
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,430
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cerro Coso Community College comes closer — median earnings $34,963 against a $36,612 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Anaheim. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cerro Coso Community College | American Career College-Anaheim |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,306 | $31,218 |
| Total net cost | $36,612 | $124,872 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,963 | $38,430 |
| Median debt | — | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$304,552 | -$323,472 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Cerro Coso Community College or American Career College-Anaheim?
Cerro Coso Community College, at $18,306 a year after aid versus $31,218 — a gap of $12,912 a year, or $88,260 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 Cerro Coso Community College or American Career College-Anaheim graduates earn more?
American Career College-Anaheim graduates report a median $38,430 ten years after entry, $3,467 more than the $34,963 at Cerro Coso Community 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 graduates more of its students?
70% of students finish at American Career College-Anaheim, against 25% at Cerro Coso Community 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.