American Career College-Los Angeles vs Carrington College-San Jose: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Carrington College-San Jose comes closer — median earnings $39,633 against a $145,864 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Los Angeles. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Career College-Los Angeles | Carrington College-San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $32,408 | $36,466 |
| Total net cost | $129,632 | $145,864 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,430 | $39,633 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $11,537 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$328,232 | -$320,404 |
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-San Jose?
American Career College-Los Angeles, at $32,408 a year after aid versus $36,466 — a gap of $4,058 a year, or $16,232 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-San Jose graduates earn more?
Carrington College-San Jose 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-San Jose?
American Career College-Los Angeles: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $11,537 at Carrington College-San Jose, 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 60% at Carrington College-San Jose. 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.