American Career College-Anaheim vs South Coast College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but South Coast College comes closer — median earnings $44,897 against a $66,136 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Anaheim. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Career College-Anaheim | South Coast College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,218 | $16,534 |
| Total net cost | $124,872 | $66,136 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,430 | $44,897 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $20,938 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$323,472 | -$135,396 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American Career College-Anaheim or South Coast College?
South Coast College, at $16,534 a year after aid versus $31,218 — a gap of $14,684 a year, or $58,736 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 South Coast College graduates earn more?
South Coast College graduates report a median $44,897 ten years after entry, $6,467 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 South Coast College?
American Career College-Anaheim: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $20,938 at South Coast College, a difference of $11,438. 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 17% at South 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.