Head-to-head comparison
Los Angeles Valley College vs American Career College-Anaheim: which has better ROI?
Option A Valley Glen, CA
Los Angeles Valley College
- Net price / year
- $12,152
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,678
- 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 Los Angeles Valley College comes closer — median earnings $42,678 against a $48,608 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Anaheim. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Los Angeles Valley College | American Career College-Anaheim |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,152 | $31,218 |
| Total net cost | $48,608 | $124,872 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,678 | $38,430 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$162,248 | -$323,472 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Los Angeles Valley College or American Career College-Anaheim?
Los Angeles Valley College, at $12,152 a year after aid versus $31,218 — a gap of $19,066 a year, or $76,264 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 Los Angeles Valley College or American Career College-Anaheim graduates earn more?
Los Angeles Valley College graduates report a median $42,678 ten years after entry, $4,248 more than the $38,430 at American Career College-Anaheim. 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, Los Angeles Valley College or American Career College-Anaheim?
American Career College-Anaheim: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $10,500 at Los Angeles Valley College, a difference of $1,000. 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?
70% of students finish at American Career College-Anaheim, against 32% at Los Angeles Valley 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.