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American Career College-Los Angeles vs Coastline Beauty College: which has better ROI?

Private for-profit, Los Angeles CA · vs · Private for-profit, Fountain Valley 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 $11,585 at Coastline Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureAmerican Career College-Los AngelesCoastline Beauty College
Net price / yr$32,408$22,007
Total net cost$129,632$88,028
Median earnings, 10 yrs$38,430$11,585
Median debt$9,500
Payback
20-year net return-$328,232-$823,528

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

Which is cheaper, American Career College-Los Angeles or Coastline Beauty College?

Coastline Beauty College, at $22,007 a year after aid versus $32,408 — a gap of $10,401 a year, or $41,604 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 Coastline Beauty College graduates earn more?

American Career College-Los Angeles graduates report a median $38,430 ten years after entry, $26,845 more than the $11,585 at Coastline Beauty College. 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 graduates more of its students?

87% of students finish at Coastline Beauty College, 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.

American Career College-Los Angeles vs Coastline Beauty College: frequently asked questions

Is American Career College-Los Angeles or Coastline Beauty College 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 Coastline Beauty College?
Coastline Beauty College: $22,007/yr net price after aid versus $32,408/yr at American Career College-Los Angeles — a difference of $10,401 a year, or about $41,604 over four years.
Do American Career College-Los Angeles or Coastline Beauty College graduates earn more?
American Career College-Los Angeles graduates earn a median $38,430 ten years after entry, versus $11,585 at Coastline Beauty College — a $26,845 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.