American Career College-Los Angeles vs Salon Success Academy-Upland: 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 $26,956 at Salon Success Academy-Upland. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Career College-Los Angeles | Salon Success Academy-Upland |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $32,408 | $17,658 |
| Total net cost | $129,632 | $70,632 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,430 | $26,956 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $7,177 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$328,232 | -$498,712 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American Career College-Los Angeles or Salon Success Academy-Upland?
Salon Success Academy-Upland, at $17,658 a year after aid versus $32,408 — a gap of $14,750 a year, or $59,000 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 Salon Success Academy-Upland graduates earn more?
American Career College-Los Angeles graduates report a median $38,430 ten years after entry, $11,474 more than the $26,956 at Salon Success Academy-Upland. 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 Salon Success Academy-Upland?
Salon Success Academy-Upland: its completers carry a median $7,177 in federal loans versus $9,500 at American Career College-Los Angeles, a difference of $2,323. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
91% of students finish at Salon Success Academy-Upland, 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.