Head-to-head comparison
Universal Technical Institute of Northern California Inc vs American Beauty College: which has better ROI?
Option A Sacramento, CA
Universal Technical Institute of Northern California Inc
- Net price / year
- $28,887
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,341
- 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 Universal Technical Institute of Northern California Inc comes closer — median earnings $48,341 against a $57,774 total, vs $22,481 at American Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Universal Technical Institute of Northern California Inc | American Beauty College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,887 | $25,781 |
| Total net cost | $57,774 | $103,124 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,341 | $22,481 |
| Median debt | $13,097 | $5,430 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$58,154 | -$620,704 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Universal Technical Institute of Northern California Inc or American Beauty College?
American Beauty College, at $25,781 a year after aid versus $28,887 — a gap of $3,106 a year, or $45,350 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 Universal Technical Institute of Northern California Inc or American Beauty College graduates earn more?
Universal Technical Institute of Northern California Inc graduates report a median $48,341 ten years after entry, $25,860 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, Universal Technical Institute of Northern California Inc or American Beauty College?
American Beauty College: its completers carry a median $5,430 in federal loans versus $13,097 at Universal Technical Institute of Northern California Inc, a difference of $7,667. 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?
69% of students finish at American Beauty College, against 65% at Universal Technical Institute of Northern California Inc. 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.