American 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 $22,481 at American Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Beauty College | CET-San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,781 | $22,035 |
| Total net cost | $103,124 | $88,140 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $22,481 | $32,986 |
| Median debt | $5,430 | $7,041 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$620,704 | -$395,620 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American Beauty College or CET-San Diego?
CET-San Diego, at $22,035 a year after aid versus $25,781 — a gap of $3,746 a year, or $14,984 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 CET-San Diego graduates earn more?
CET-San Diego graduates report a median $32,986 ten years after entry, $10,505 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 CET-San Diego?
American Beauty College: its completers carry a median $5,430 in federal loans versus $7,041 at CET-San Diego, a difference of $1,611. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
87% of students finish at CET-San Diego, 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.