Advance Beauty College vs Sierra College of Beauty: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Sierra College of Beauty comes closer — median earnings $18,519 against a $43,176 total, vs $11,575 at Advance Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Advance Beauty College | Sierra College of Beauty |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,358 | $10,794 |
| Total net cost | $41,432 | $43,176 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $11,575 | $18,519 |
| Median debt | — | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$777,132 | -$639,996 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Advance Beauty College or Sierra College of Beauty?
Advance Beauty College, at $10,358 a year after aid versus $10,794 — a gap of $436 a year, or $1,744 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 Sierra College of Beauty graduates earn more?
Sierra College of Beauty graduates report a median $18,519 ten years after entry, $6,944 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?
84% of students finish at Sierra College of Beauty, 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.