College of the Redwoods vs American Career College-Anaheim: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but College of the Redwoods comes closer — median earnings $36,243 against a $13,808 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Anaheim. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of the Redwoods | American Career College-Anaheim |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,904 | $31,218 |
| Total net cost | $13,808 | $124,872 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,243 | $38,430 |
| Median debt | $8,080 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$256,148 | -$323,472 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, College of the Redwoods or American Career College-Anaheim?
College of the Redwoods, at $6,904 a year after aid versus $31,218 — a gap of $24,314 a year, or $111,064 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do College of the Redwoods or American Career College-Anaheim graduates earn more?
American Career College-Anaheim graduates report a median $38,430 ten years after entry, $2,187 more than the $36,243 at College of the Redwoods. 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, College of the Redwoods or American Career College-Anaheim?
College of the Redwoods: its completers carry a median $8,080 in federal loans versus $9,500 at American Career College-Anaheim, a difference of $1,420. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
70% of students finish at American Career College-Anaheim, against 34% at College of the Redwoods. 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.