California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt vs Advance Beauty College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt comes closer — median earnings $47,626 against a $52,684 total, vs $11,575 at Advance Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | Advance Beauty College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,171 | $10,358 |
| Total net cost | $52,684 | $41,432 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,626 | $11,575 |
| Median debt | $18,000 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$67,364 | -$777,132 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt or Advance Beauty College?
Advance Beauty College, at $10,358 a year after aid versus $13,171 — a gap of $2,813 a year, or $11,252 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt or Advance Beauty College graduates earn more?
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates report a median $47,626 ten years after entry, $36,051 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 49% at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt. 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.