American Beauty College vs San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova comes closer — median earnings $38,317 against a $59,622 total, vs $22,481 at American Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Beauty College | San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,781 | $29,811 |
| Total net cost | $103,124 | $59,622 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $22,481 | $38,317 |
| Median debt | $5,430 | $10,674 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$620,704 | -$260,482 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American Beauty College or San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova?
American Beauty College, at $25,781 a year after aid versus $29,811 — a gap of $4,030 a year, or $43,502 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 San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova graduates earn more?
San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova graduates report a median $38,317 ten years after entry, $15,836 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 San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova?
American Beauty College: its completers carry a median $5,430 in federal loans versus $10,674 at San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova, a difference of $5,244. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
76% of students finish at San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova, 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.