Antelope Valley Community College District vs American Career College-Anaheim: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Antelope Valley Community College District comes closer — median earnings $36,526 against a $7,720 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Anaheim. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Antelope Valley Community College District | American Career College-Anaheim |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,860 | $31,218 |
| Total net cost | $7,720 | $124,872 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,526 | $38,430 |
| Median debt | $12,500 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$244,400 | -$323,472 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Antelope Valley Community College District or American Career College-Anaheim?
Antelope Valley Community College District, at $3,860 a year after aid versus $31,218 — a gap of $27,358 a year, or $117,152 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Antelope Valley Community College District or American Career College-Anaheim graduates earn more?
American Career College-Anaheim graduates report a median $38,430 ten years after entry, $1,904 more than the $36,526 at Antelope Valley Community College District. 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, Antelope Valley Community College District or American Career College-Anaheim?
American Career College-Anaheim: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $12,500 at Antelope Valley Community College District, a difference of $3,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
70% of students finish at American Career College-Anaheim, against 34% at Antelope Valley Community College District. 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.