City College of San Francisco vs Advance Beauty College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but City College of San Francisco comes closer — median earnings $45,805 against a $27,624 total, vs $11,575 at Advance Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | City College of San Francisco | Advance Beauty College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,906 | $10,358 |
| Total net cost | $27,624 | $41,432 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,805 | $11,575 |
| Median debt | $8,218 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$78,724 | -$777,132 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, City College of San Francisco or Advance Beauty College?
City College of San Francisco, at $6,906 a year after aid versus $10,358 — a gap of $3,452 a year, or $13,808 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do City College of San Francisco or Advance Beauty College graduates earn more?
City College of San Francisco graduates report a median $45,805 ten years after entry, $34,230 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 40% at City College of San Francisco. 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.