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Carrington College-San Jose vs Advance Beauty College: which has better ROI?

Private for-profit, San Jose CA · vs · Private for-profit, Garden Grove CA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Carrington College-San Jose comes closer — median earnings $39,633 against a $145,864 total, vs $11,575 at Advance Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureCarrington College-San JoseAdvance Beauty College
Net price / yr$36,466$10,358
Total net cost$145,864$41,432
Median earnings, 10 yrs$39,633$11,575
Median debt$11,537
Payback
20-year net return-$320,404-$777,132

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

Which is cheaper, Carrington College-San Jose or Advance Beauty College?

Advance Beauty College, at $10,358 a year after aid versus $36,466 — a gap of $26,108 a year, or $104,432 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-San Jose or Advance Beauty College graduates earn more?

Carrington College-San Jose graduates report a median $39,633 ten years after entry, $28,058 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 60% at Carrington College-San Jose. 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-San Jose vs Advance Beauty College: frequently asked questions

Is Carrington College-San Jose or Advance Beauty College a better value?
Carrington College-San Jose 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-San Jose or Advance Beauty College?
Advance Beauty College: $10,358/yr net price after aid versus $36,466/yr at Carrington College-San Jose — a difference of $26,108 a year, or about $104,432 over four years.
Do Carrington College-San Jose or Advance Beauty College graduates earn more?
Carrington College-San Jose graduates earn a median $39,633 ten years after entry, versus $11,575 at Advance Beauty College — a $28,058 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.