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Cerritos College vs Advance Beauty College: which has better ROI?

Public, Norwalk CA · vs · Private for-profit, Garden Grove CA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cerritos College comes closer — median earnings $41,156 against a $9,696 total, vs $11,575 at Advance Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureCerritos CollegeAdvance Beauty College
Net price / yr$2,424$10,358
Total net cost$9,696$41,432
Median earnings, 10 yrs$41,156$11,575
Median debt$8,447
Payback
20-year net return-$153,776-$777,132

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

Which is cheaper, Cerritos College or Advance Beauty College?

Cerritos College, at $2,424 a year after aid versus $10,358 — a gap of $7,934 a year, or $31,736 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Cerritos College or Advance Beauty College graduates earn more?

Cerritos College graduates report a median $41,156 ten years after entry, $29,581 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 31% at Cerritos 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.

Cerritos College vs Advance Beauty College: frequently asked questions

Is Cerritos College or Advance Beauty College a better value?
Cerritos 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, Cerritos College or Advance Beauty College?
Cerritos College: $2,424/yr net price after aid versus $10,358/yr at Advance Beauty College — a difference of $7,934 a year, or about $31,736 over four years.
Do Cerritos College or Advance Beauty College graduates earn more?
Cerritos College graduates earn a median $41,156 ten years after entry, versus $11,575 at Advance Beauty College — a $29,581 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.