American Career College-Los Angeles vs Copper Mountain Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Copper Mountain Community College comes closer — median earnings $33,281 against a $18,210 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Los Angeles. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Career College-Los Angeles | Copper Mountain Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $32,408 | $9,105 |
| Total net cost | $129,632 | $18,210 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,430 | $33,281 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$328,232 | -$319,790 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American Career College-Los Angeles or Copper Mountain Community College?
Copper Mountain Community College, at $9,105 a year after aid versus $32,408 — a gap of $23,303 a year, or $111,422 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 Copper Mountain Community College graduates earn more?
American Career College-Los Angeles graduates report a median $38,430 ten years after entry, $5,149 more than the $33,281 at Copper Mountain Community 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?
75% of students finish at American Career College-Los Angeles, against 20% at Copper Mountain Community 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.