American Career College-Los Angeles vs California Institute of the Arts: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but California Institute of the Arts comes closer — median earnings $41,198 against a $184,320 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Los Angeles. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Career College-Los Angeles | California Institute of the Arts |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $32,408 | $46,080 |
| Total net cost | $129,632 | $184,320 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,430 | $41,198 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $25,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$328,232 | -$327,560 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American Career College-Los Angeles or California Institute of the Arts?
American Career College-Los Angeles, at $32,408 a year after aid versus $46,080 — a gap of $13,672 a year, or $54,688 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-Los Angeles or California Institute of the Arts graduates earn more?
California Institute of the Arts graduates report a median $41,198 ten years after entry, $2,768 more than the $38,430 at American Career College-Los Angeles. 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-Los Angeles or California Institute of the Arts?
American Career College-Los Angeles: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $25,000 at California Institute of the Arts, a difference of $15,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
75% of students finish at American Career College-Los Angeles, against 67% at California Institute of the Arts. 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.