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American Career College-Anaheim vs Los Angeles College of Music: which has better ROI?

Private for-profit, Anaheim CA · vs · Private for-profit, Pasadena CA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but American Career College-Anaheim comes closer — median earnings $38,430 against a $124,872 total, vs $31,758 at Los Angeles College of Music. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureAmerican Career College-AnaheimLos Angeles College of Music
Net price / yr$31,218$43,590
Total net cost$124,872$174,360
Median earnings, 10 yrs$38,430$31,758
Median debt$9,500$27,938
Payback
20-year net return-$323,472-$506,400

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, American Career College-Anaheim or Los Angeles College of Music?

American Career College-Anaheim, at $31,218 a year after aid versus $43,590 — a gap of $12,372 a year, or $49,488 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 Los Angeles College of Music graduates earn more?

American Career College-Anaheim graduates report a median $38,430 ten years after entry, $6,672 more than the $31,758 at Los Angeles College of Music. 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 Los Angeles College of Music?

American Career College-Anaheim: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $27,938 at Los Angeles College of Music, a difference of $18,438. 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 41% at Los Angeles College of Music. 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.

American Career College-Anaheim vs Los Angeles College of Music: frequently asked questions

Is American Career College-Anaheim or Los Angeles College of Music a better value?
American Career College-Anaheim comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, American Career College-Anaheim or Los Angeles College of Music?
American Career College-Anaheim: $31,218/yr net price after aid versus $43,590/yr at Los Angeles College of Music — a difference of $12,372 a year, or about $49,488 over four years.
Do American Career College-Anaheim or Los Angeles College of Music graduates earn more?
American Career College-Anaheim graduates earn a median $38,430 ten years after entry, versus $31,758 at Los Angeles College of Music — a $6,672 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.