Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

American Career College-Los Angeles vs Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus: which has better ROI?

Private for-profit, Los Angeles CA · vs · Private for-profit, Pleasant Hill CA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but American Career College-Los Angeles comes closer — median earnings $38,430 against a $129,632 total, vs $39,633 at Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureAmerican Career College-Los AngelesCarrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus
Net price / yr$32,408$39,357
Total net cost$129,632$157,428
Median earnings, 10 yrs$38,430$39,633
Median debt$9,500$11,537
Payback
20-year net return-$328,232-$331,968

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

Which is cheaper, American Career College-Los Angeles or Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus?

American Career College-Los Angeles, at $32,408 a year after aid versus $39,357 — a gap of $6,949 a year, or $27,796 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 Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus graduates earn more?

Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus graduates report a median $39,633 ten years after entry, $1,203 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 Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus?

American Career College-Los Angeles: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $11,537 at Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus, a difference of $2,037. 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 59% at Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus. 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-Los Angeles vs Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus: frequently asked questions

Is American Career College-Los Angeles or Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus a better value?
American Career College-Los Angeles 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-Los Angeles or Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus?
American Career College-Los Angeles: $32,408/yr net price after aid versus $39,357/yr at Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus — a difference of $6,949 a year, or about $27,796 over four years.
Do American Career College-Los Angeles or Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus graduates earn more?
Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus graduates earn a median $39,633 ten years after entry, versus $38,430 at American Career College-Los Angeles — a $1,203 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.