American Career College-Anaheim vs Milan Institute-Merced: which has better ROI?
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 $24,879 at Milan Institute-Merced. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Career College-Anaheim | Milan Institute-Merced |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,218 | $23,396 |
| Total net cost | $124,872 | $93,584 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,430 | $24,879 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$323,472 | -$563,204 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American Career College-Anaheim or Milan Institute-Merced?
Milan Institute-Merced, at $23,396 a year after aid versus $31,218 — a gap of $7,822 a year, or $31,288 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 Milan Institute-Merced graduates earn more?
American Career College-Anaheim graduates report a median $38,430 ten years after entry, $13,551 more than the $24,879 at Milan Institute-Merced. 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 Milan Institute-Merced?
Milan Institute-Merced: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $9,500 at American Career College-Anaheim, a difference of $3,167. 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 55% at Milan Institute-Merced. 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.