Head-to-head comparison
Modesto Junior College vs American Career College-Los Angeles: which has better ROI?
Option A Modesto, CA
Modesto Junior College
- Net price / year
- $2,818
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,368
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Los Angeles, CA
American Career College-Los Angeles
- Net price / year
- $32,408
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,430
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Modesto Junior College comes closer — median earnings $42,368 against a $5,636 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Los Angeles. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Modesto Junior College | American Career College-Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $2,818 | $32,408 |
| Total net cost | $5,636 | $129,632 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,368 | $38,430 |
| Median debt | — | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$125,476 | -$328,232 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Modesto Junior College or American Career College-Los Angeles?
Modesto Junior College, at $2,818 a year after aid versus $32,408 — a gap of $29,590 a year, or $123,996 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 Modesto Junior College or American Career College-Los Angeles graduates earn more?
Modesto Junior College graduates report a median $42,368 ten years after entry, $3,938 more than the $38,430 at American Career College-Los Angeles. 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?
75% of students finish at American Career College-Los Angeles, against 30% at Modesto Junior 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.