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Cabrillo College vs Advance Beauty College: which has better ROI?

Public, Aptos CA · vs · Private for-profit, Garden Grove CA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cabrillo College comes closer — median earnings $44,114 against a $31,686 total, vs $11,575 at Advance Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureCabrillo CollegeAdvance Beauty College
Net price / yr$15,843$10,358
Total net cost$31,686$41,432
Median earnings, 10 yrs$44,114$11,575
Median debt$14,380
Payback
20-year net return-$116,606-$777,132

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

Which is cheaper, Cabrillo College or Advance Beauty College?

Advance Beauty College, at $10,358 a year after aid versus $15,843 — a gap of $5,485 a year, or $9,746 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Cabrillo College or Advance Beauty College graduates earn more?

Cabrillo College graduates report a median $44,114 ten years after entry, $32,539 more than the $11,575 at Advance Beauty 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 graduates more of its students?

67% of students finish at Advance Beauty College, against 38% at Cabrillo 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.

Cabrillo College vs Advance Beauty College: frequently asked questions

Is Cabrillo College or Advance Beauty College a better value?
Cabrillo College 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, Cabrillo College or Advance Beauty College?
Advance Beauty College: $10,358/yr net price after aid versus $15,843/yr at Cabrillo College — a difference of $5,485 a year, or about $9,746 over four years.
Do Cabrillo College or Advance Beauty College graduates earn more?
Cabrillo College graduates earn a median $44,114 ten years after entry, versus $11,575 at Advance Beauty College — a $32,539 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.