American Career College-Los Angeles vs Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego: which has better ROI?
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 $26,897 at Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Career College-Los Angeles | Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $32,408 | $35,975 |
| Total net cost | $129,632 | $143,900 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,430 | $26,897 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $13,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$328,232 | -$573,160 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American Career College-Los Angeles or Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego?
American Career College-Los Angeles, at $32,408 a year after aid versus $35,975 — a gap of $3,567 a year, or $14,268 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 Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego graduates earn more?
American Career College-Los Angeles graduates report a median $38,430 ten years after entry, $11,533 more than the $26,897 at Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego. 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 Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego?
American Career College-Los Angeles: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $13,000 at Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego, a difference of $3,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
99% of students finish at Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego, 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.