Head-to-head comparison
Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa vs American Beauty College: which has better ROI?
Option A Costa Mesa, CA
Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa
- Net price / year
- $21,920
- Earnings, 10 years
- $26,897
- 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 Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa comes closer — median earnings $26,897 against a $87,680 total, vs $22,481 at American Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa | American Beauty College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,920 | $25,781 |
| Total net cost | $87,680 | $103,124 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $26,897 | $22,481 |
| Median debt | $13,000 | $5,430 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$516,940 | -$620,704 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa or American Beauty College?
Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa, at $21,920 a year after aid versus $25,781 — a gap of $3,861 a year, or $15,444 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 Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa or American Beauty College graduates earn more?
Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa graduates report a median $26,897 ten years after entry, $4,416 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, Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa or American Beauty College?
American Beauty College: its completers carry a median $5,430 in federal loans versus $13,000 at Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa, a difference of $7,570. 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?
82% of students finish at Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa, 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.