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Central Coast College vs American Beauty College: which has better ROI?

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

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Central Coast College comes closer — median earnings $40,823 against a $106,668 total, vs $22,481 at American Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureCentral Coast CollegeAmerican Beauty College
Net price / yr$26,667$25,781
Total net cost$106,668$103,124
Median earnings, 10 yrs$40,823$22,481
Median debt$7,476$5,430
Payback
20-year net return-$257,408-$620,704

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

Which is cheaper, Central Coast College or American Beauty College?

American Beauty College, at $25,781 a year after aid versus $26,667 — a gap of $886 a year, or $3,544 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Central Coast College or American Beauty College graduates earn more?

Central Coast College graduates report a median $40,823 ten years after entry, $18,342 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, Central Coast College or American Beauty College?

American Beauty College: its completers carry a median $5,430 in federal loans versus $7,476 at Central Coast College, a difference of $2,046. 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 67% at Central Coast College. 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.

Central Coast College vs American Beauty College: frequently asked questions

Is Central Coast College or American Beauty College a better value?
Central Coast College 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, Central Coast College or American Beauty College?
American Beauty College: $25,781/yr net price after aid versus $26,667/yr at Central Coast College — a difference of $886 a year, or about $3,544 over four years.
Do Central Coast College or American Beauty College graduates earn more?
Central Coast College graduates earn a median $40,823 ten years after entry, versus $22,481 at American Beauty College — a $18,342 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.