American Career College-Anaheim vs Central Coast College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Central Coast College comes closer — median earnings $40,823 against a $106,668 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Anaheim. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Career College-Anaheim | Central Coast College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,218 | $26,667 |
| Total net cost | $124,872 | $106,668 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,430 | $40,823 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $7,476 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$323,472 | -$257,408 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American Career College-Anaheim or Central Coast College?
Central Coast College, at $26,667 a year after aid versus $31,218 — a gap of $4,551 a year, or $18,204 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 Career College-Anaheim or Central Coast College graduates earn more?
Central Coast College graduates report a median $40,823 ten years after entry, $2,393 more than the $38,430 at American Career College-Anaheim. 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 Career College-Anaheim or Central Coast College?
Central Coast College: its completers carry a median $7,476 in federal loans versus $9,500 at American Career College-Anaheim, a difference of $2,024. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
70% of students finish at American Career College-Anaheim, against 67% at Central Coast 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.