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American Career College-Anaheim vs Mayfield College: which has better ROI?

Private for-profit, Anaheim CA · vs · Private for-profit, Cathedral City 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 $29,384 at Mayfield College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureAmerican Career College-AnaheimMayfield College
Net price / yr$31,218$24,948
Total net cost$124,872$99,792
Median earnings, 10 yrs$38,430$29,384
Median debt$9,500$9,025
Payback
20-year net return-$323,472-$479,312

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

Which is cheaper, American Career College-Anaheim or Mayfield College?

Mayfield College, at $24,948 a year after aid versus $31,218 — a gap of $6,270 a year, or $25,080 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 Mayfield College graduates earn more?

American Career College-Anaheim graduates report a median $38,430 ten years after entry, $9,046 more than the $29,384 at Mayfield 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 Career College-Anaheim or Mayfield College?

Mayfield College: its completers carry a median $9,025 in federal loans versus $9,500 at American Career College-Anaheim, a difference of $475. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

82% of students finish at Mayfield College, against 70% at American Career College-Anaheim. 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 Mayfield College: frequently asked questions

Is American Career College-Anaheim or Mayfield College 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 Mayfield College?
Mayfield College: $24,948/yr net price after aid versus $31,218/yr at American Career College-Anaheim — a difference of $6,270 a year, or about $25,080 over four years.
Do American Career College-Anaheim or Mayfield College graduates earn more?
American Career College-Anaheim graduates earn a median $38,430 ten years after entry, versus $29,384 at Mayfield College — a $9,046 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.