American Career College-Los Angeles vs California Nurses Educational Institute: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but California Nurses Educational Institute comes closer — median earnings $46,895 against a $92,924 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Los Angeles. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Career College-Los Angeles | California Nurses Educational Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $32,408 | $23,231 |
| Total net cost | $129,632 | $92,924 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,430 | $46,895 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $16,941 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$328,232 | -$122,224 |
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 Nurses Educational Institute?
California Nurses Educational Institute, at $23,231 a year after aid versus $32,408 — a gap of $9,177 a year, or $36,708 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 Nurses Educational Institute graduates earn more?
California Nurses Educational Institute graduates report a median $46,895 ten years after entry, $8,465 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 Nurses Educational Institute?
American Career College-Los Angeles: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $16,941 at California Nurses Educational Institute, a difference of $7,441. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
80% of students finish at California Nurses Educational Institute, against 75% at American Career College-Los Angeles. 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.