Columbia College vs American Beauty College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Columbia College comes closer — median earnings $39,035 against a $22,632 total, vs $22,481 at American Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbia College | American Beauty College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,316 | $25,781 |
| Total net cost | $22,632 | $103,124 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,035 | $22,481 |
| Median debt | — | $5,430 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$209,132 | -$620,704 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Columbia College or American Beauty College?
Columbia College, at $11,316 a year after aid versus $25,781 — a gap of $14,465 a year, or $80,492 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Columbia College or American Beauty College graduates earn more?
Columbia College graduates report a median $39,035 ten years after entry, $16,554 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 graduates more of its students?
69% of students finish at American Beauty College, against 27% at Columbia 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.