Carrington College-Sacramento vs American Career College-Anaheim: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but American Career College-Anaheim comes closer — median earnings $38,430 against a $124,872 total, vs $39,633 at Carrington College-Sacramento. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Carrington College-Sacramento | American Career College-Anaheim |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $41,338 | $31,218 |
| Total net cost | $165,352 | $124,872 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,633 | $38,430 |
| Median debt | $11,537 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$339,892 | -$323,472 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Carrington College-Sacramento or American Career College-Anaheim?
American Career College-Anaheim, at $31,218 a year after aid versus $41,338 — a gap of $10,120 a year, or $40,480 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 Career College-Anaheim graduates earn more?
Carrington College-Sacramento graduates report a median $39,633 ten years after entry, $1,203 more than the $38,430 at American Career College-Anaheim. 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 Career College-Anaheim?
American Career College-Anaheim: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $11,537 at Carrington College-Sacramento, a difference of $2,037. 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 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.