American Beauty College vs California Nurses Educational Institute: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but California Nurses Educational Institute comes closer — median earnings $46,895 against a $92,924 total, vs $22,481 at American Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Beauty College | California Nurses Educational Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,781 | $23,231 |
| Total net cost | $103,124 | $92,924 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $22,481 | $46,895 |
| Median debt | $5,430 | $16,941 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$620,704 | -$122,224 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American Beauty College or California Nurses Educational Institute?
California Nurses Educational Institute, at $23,231 a year after aid versus $25,781 — a gap of $2,550 a year, or $10,200 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do American Beauty College or California Nurses Educational Institute graduates earn more?
California Nurses Educational Institute graduates report a median $46,895 ten years after entry, $24,414 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.
Which leaves students with less debt, American Beauty College or California Nurses Educational Institute?
American Beauty College: its completers carry a median $5,430 in federal loans versus $16,941 at California Nurses Educational Institute, a difference of $11,511. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
80% of students finish at California Nurses Educational Institute, 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.