Advance Beauty College vs Salon Success Academy-Upland: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Salon Success Academy-Upland comes closer — median earnings $26,956 against a $70,632 total, vs $11,575 at Advance Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Advance Beauty College | Salon Success Academy-Upland |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,358 | $17,658 |
| Total net cost | $41,432 | $70,632 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $11,575 | $26,956 |
| Median debt | — | $7,177 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$777,132 | -$498,712 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Advance Beauty College or Salon Success Academy-Upland?
Advance Beauty College, at $10,358 a year after aid versus $17,658 — a gap of $7,300 a year, or $29,200 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 Salon Success Academy-Upland graduates earn more?
Salon Success Academy-Upland graduates report a median $26,956 ten years after entry, $15,381 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?
91% of students finish at Salon Success Academy-Upland, 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.