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Carrington College-Sacramento vs American Beauty College: which has better ROI?

Private for-profit, Sacramento CA · vs · Private for-profit, West Covina CA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Carrington College-Sacramento comes closer — median earnings $39,633 against a $165,352 total, vs $22,481 at American Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureCarrington College-SacramentoAmerican Beauty College
Net price / yr$41,338$25,781
Total net cost$165,352$103,124
Median earnings, 10 yrs$39,633$22,481
Median debt$11,537$5,430
Payback
20-year net return-$339,892-$620,704

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

Which is cheaper, Carrington College-Sacramento or American Beauty College?

American Beauty College, at $25,781 a year after aid versus $41,338 — a gap of $15,557 a year, or $62,228 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Carrington College-Sacramento or American Beauty College graduates earn more?

Carrington College-Sacramento graduates report a median $39,633 ten years after entry, $17,152 more than the $22,481 at American 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 leaves students with less debt, Carrington College-Sacramento or American Beauty College?

American Beauty College: its completers carry a median $5,430 in federal loans versus $11,537 at Carrington College-Sacramento, a difference of $6,107. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

69% of students finish at American Beauty College, against 51% at Carrington College-Sacramento. 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.

Carrington College-Sacramento vs American Beauty College: frequently asked questions

Is Carrington College-Sacramento or American Beauty College a better value?
Carrington College-Sacramento 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, Carrington College-Sacramento or American Beauty College?
American Beauty College: $25,781/yr net price after aid versus $41,338/yr at Carrington College-Sacramento — a difference of $15,557 a year, or about $62,228 over four years.
Do Carrington College-Sacramento or American Beauty College graduates earn more?
Carrington College-Sacramento graduates earn a median $39,633 ten years after entry, versus $22,481 at American Beauty College — a $17,152 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.