Advance Beauty College vs CET-San Diego: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but CET-San Diego comes closer — median earnings $32,986 against a $88,140 total, vs $11,575 at Advance Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Advance Beauty College | CET-San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,358 | $22,035 |
| Total net cost | $41,432 | $88,140 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $11,575 | $32,986 |
| Median debt | — | $7,041 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$777,132 | -$395,620 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Advance Beauty College or CET-San Diego?
Advance Beauty College, at $10,358 a year after aid versus $22,035 — a gap of $11,677 a year, or $46,708 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Advance Beauty College or CET-San Diego graduates earn more?
CET-San Diego graduates report a median $32,986 ten years after entry, $21,411 more than the $11,575 at Advance 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.
Which graduates more of its students?
87% of students finish at CET-San Diego, against 67% at Advance 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.