American Career College-Los Angeles vs Sierra College of Beauty: 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 $18,519 at Sierra College of Beauty. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Career College-Los Angeles | Sierra College of Beauty |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $32,408 | $10,794 |
| Total net cost | $129,632 | $43,176 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,430 | $18,519 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$328,232 | -$639,996 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American Career College-Los Angeles or Sierra College of Beauty?
Sierra College of Beauty, at $10,794 a year after aid versus $32,408 — a gap of $21,614 a year, or $86,456 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 Sierra College of Beauty graduates earn more?
American Career College-Los Angeles graduates report a median $38,430 ten years after entry, $19,911 more than the $18,519 at Sierra College of Beauty. 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?
84% of students finish at Sierra College of Beauty, 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.