American River College vs Sacramento City College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Sacramento City College comes closer — median earnings $42,214 against a $13,228 total, vs $40,162 at American River College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American River College | Sacramento City College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,999 | $6,614 |
| Total net cost | $15,998 | $13,228 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,162 | $42,214 |
| Median debt | $9,625 | $10,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$179,958 | -$136,148 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American River College or Sacramento City College?
Sacramento City College, at $6,614 a year after aid versus $7,999 — a gap of $1,385 a year, or $2,770 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 River College or Sacramento City College graduates earn more?
Sacramento City College graduates report a median $42,214 ten years after entry, $2,052 more than the $40,162 at American River College. 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 River College or Sacramento City College?
American River College: its completers carry a median $9,625 in federal loans versus $10,500 at Sacramento City College, a difference of $875. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
37% of students finish at American River College, against 33% at Sacramento City College. 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.