American 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 $22,481 at American Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Beauty College | Salon Success Academy-Upland |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,781 | $17,658 |
| Total net cost | $103,124 | $70,632 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $22,481 | $26,956 |
| Median debt | $5,430 | $7,177 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$620,704 | -$498,712 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American Beauty College or Salon Success Academy-Upland?
Salon Success Academy-Upland, at $17,658 a year after aid versus $25,781 — a gap of $8,123 a year, or $32,492 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 Salon Success Academy-Upland graduates earn more?
Salon Success Academy-Upland graduates report a median $26,956 ten years after entry, $4,475 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 Salon Success Academy-Upland?
American Beauty College: its completers carry a median $5,430 in federal loans versus $7,177 at Salon Success Academy-Upland, a difference of $1,747. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
91% of students finish at Salon Success Academy-Upland, 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.