Degree Dividend
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American Career College-Anaheim vs North-West College-Van Nuys: which has better ROI?

Private for-profit, Anaheim CA · vs · Private for-profit, Van Nuys 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 $32,488 at North-West College-Van Nuys. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureAmerican Career College-AnaheimNorth-West College-Van Nuys
Net price / yr$31,218$31,999
Total net cost$124,872$127,996
Median earnings, 10 yrs$38,430$32,488
Median debt$9,500$9,500
Payback
20-year net return-$323,472-$445,436

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

Which is cheaper, American Career College-Anaheim or North-West College-Van Nuys?

American Career College-Anaheim, at $31,218 a year after aid versus $31,999 — a gap of $781 a year, or $3,124 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 North-West College-Van Nuys graduates earn more?

American Career College-Anaheim graduates report a median $38,430 ten years after entry, $5,942 more than the $32,488 at North-West College-Van Nuys. 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 North-West College-Van Nuys?

Completers at both borrow a median $9,500, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.

Which graduates more of its students?

70% of students finish at American Career College-Anaheim, against 60% at North-West College-Van Nuys. 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 North-West College-Van Nuys: frequently asked questions

Is American Career College-Anaheim or North-West College-Van Nuys 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 North-West College-Van Nuys?
American Career College-Anaheim: $31,218/yr net price after aid versus $31,999/yr at North-West College-Van Nuys — a difference of $781 a year, or about $3,124 over four years.
Do American Career College-Anaheim or North-West College-Van Nuys graduates earn more?
American Career College-Anaheim graduates earn a median $38,430 ten years after entry, versus $32,488 at North-West College-Van Nuys — a $5,942 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.