American Beauty College vs Sierra College of Beauty: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but American Beauty College comes closer — median earnings $22,481 against a $103,124 total, vs $18,519 at Sierra College of Beauty. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Beauty College | Sierra College of Beauty |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,781 | $10,794 |
| Total net cost | $103,124 | $43,176 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $22,481 | $18,519 |
| Median debt | $5,430 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$620,704 | -$639,996 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American Beauty College or Sierra College of Beauty?
Sierra College of Beauty, at $10,794 a year after aid versus $25,781 — a gap of $14,987 a year, or $59,948 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 Sierra College of Beauty graduates earn more?
American Beauty College graduates report a median $22,481 ten years after entry, $3,962 more than the $18,519 at Sierra College of Beauty. 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 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.