Degree Dividend
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American Career College-Los Angeles vs UEI College-Garden Grove: which has better ROI?

Private for-profit, Los Angeles CA · vs · Private for-profit, Garden Grove CA

The verdict

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 $31,141 at UEI College-Garden Grove. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureAmerican Career College-Los AngelesUEI College-Garden Grove
Net price / yr$32,408$28,182
Total net cost$129,632$112,728
Median earnings, 10 yrs$38,430$31,141
Median debt$9,500$9,500
Payback
20-year net return-$328,232-$457,108

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, American Career College-Los Angeles or UEI College-Garden Grove?

UEI College-Garden Grove, at $28,182 a year after aid versus $32,408 — a gap of $4,226 a year, or $16,904 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 UEI College-Garden Grove graduates earn more?

American Career College-Los Angeles graduates report a median $38,430 ten years after entry, $7,289 more than the $31,141 at UEI College-Garden Grove. 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 UEI College-Garden Grove?

Completers at both borrow a median $9,500, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.

Which graduates more of its students?

75% of students finish at American Career College-Los Angeles, against 63% at UEI College-Garden Grove. 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.

American Career College-Los Angeles vs UEI College-Garden Grove: frequently asked questions

Is American Career College-Los Angeles or UEI College-Garden Grove a better value?
American Career College-Los Angeles comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, American Career College-Los Angeles or UEI College-Garden Grove?
UEI College-Garden Grove: $28,182/yr net price after aid versus $32,408/yr at American Career College-Los Angeles — a difference of $4,226 a year, or about $16,904 over four years.
Do American Career College-Los Angeles or UEI College-Garden Grove graduates earn more?
American Career College-Los Angeles graduates earn a median $38,430 ten years after entry, versus $31,141 at UEI College-Garden Grove — a $7,289 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.