Head-to-head comparison
MTI College vs American Beauty College: which has better ROI?
Option A Sacramento, CA
MTI College
- Net price / year
- $21,740
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,328
- 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 MTI College comes closer — median earnings $45,328 against a $86,960 total, vs $22,481 at American Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | MTI College | American Beauty College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,740 | $25,781 |
| Total net cost | $86,960 | $103,124 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,328 | $22,481 |
| Median debt | $8,836 | $5,430 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$147,600 | -$620,704 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, MTI College or American Beauty College?
MTI College, at $21,740 a year after aid versus $25,781 — a gap of $4,041 a year, or $16,164 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 MTI College or American Beauty College graduates earn more?
MTI College graduates report a median $45,328 ten years after entry, $22,847 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, MTI College or American Beauty College?
American Beauty College: its completers carry a median $5,430 in federal loans versus $8,836 at MTI College, a difference of $3,406. 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?
77% of students finish at MTI College, against 69% at American Beauty 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.