American Career College-Los Angeles vs Columbia College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Columbia College comes closer — median earnings $39,035 against a $22,632 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Los Angeles. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Career College-Los Angeles | Columbia College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $32,408 | $11,316 |
| Total net cost | $129,632 | $22,632 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,430 | $39,035 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$328,232 | -$209,132 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American Career College-Los Angeles or Columbia College?
Columbia College, at $11,316 a year after aid versus $32,408 — a gap of $21,092 a year, or $107,000 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 Columbia College graduates earn more?
Columbia College graduates report a median $39,035 ten years after entry, $605 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 graduates more of its students?
75% of students finish at American Career College-Los Angeles, against 27% at Columbia College. 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.