American Career College-Los Angeles vs Hacienda La Puente Adult Education: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Hacienda La Puente Adult Education comes closer — median earnings $39,271 against a $14,144 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Los Angeles. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Career College-Los Angeles | Hacienda La Puente Adult Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $32,408 | $3,536 |
| Total net cost | $129,632 | $14,144 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,430 | $39,271 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$328,232 | -$195,924 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American Career College-Los Angeles or Hacienda La Puente Adult Education?
Hacienda La Puente Adult Education, at $3,536 a year after aid versus $32,408 — a gap of $28,872 a year, or $115,488 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 Hacienda La Puente Adult Education graduates earn more?
Hacienda La Puente Adult Education graduates report a median $39,271 ten years after entry, $841 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?
77% of students finish at Hacienda La Puente Adult Education, 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.