Head-to-head comparison
Cuyamaca College vs American Career College-Anaheim: which has better ROI?
Option A El Cajon, CA
Cuyamaca College
- Net price / year
- $6,618
- Earnings, 10 years
- $32,435
- 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 American Career College-Anaheim comes closer — median earnings $38,430 against a $124,872 total, vs $32,435 at Cuyamaca College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cuyamaca College | American Career College-Anaheim |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,618 | $31,218 |
| Total net cost | $13,236 | $124,872 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,435 | $38,430 |
| Median debt | — | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$331,736 | -$323,472 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Cuyamaca College or American Career College-Anaheim?
Cuyamaca College, at $6,618 a year after aid versus $31,218 — a gap of $24,600 a year, or $111,636 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 Cuyamaca College or American Career College-Anaheim graduates earn more?
American Career College-Anaheim graduates report a median $38,430 ten years after entry, $5,995 more than the $32,435 at Cuyamaca 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 41% at Cuyamaca 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.