Carrington College-San Jose vs American Beauty College: which has better ROI?
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 $22,481 at American Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Carrington College-San Jose | American Beauty College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $36,466 | $25,781 |
| Total net cost | $145,864 | $103,124 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,633 | $22,481 |
| Median debt | $11,537 | $5,430 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$320,404 | -$620,704 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Carrington College-San Jose or American Beauty College?
American Beauty College, at $25,781 a year after aid versus $36,466 — a gap of $10,685 a year, or $42,740 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 American Beauty College graduates earn more?
Carrington College-San Jose 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-San Jose or American Beauty College?
American Beauty College: its completers carry a median $5,430 in federal loans versus $11,537 at Carrington College-San Jose, 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 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.