Cuyamaca College vs American Career College-Los Angeles: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but American Career College-Los Angeles comes closer — median earnings $38,430 against a $129,632 total, vs $32,435 at Cuyamaca College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cuyamaca College | American Career College-Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,618 | $32,408 |
| Total net cost | $13,236 | $129,632 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,435 | $38,430 |
| Median debt | — | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$331,736 | -$328,232 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Cuyamaca College or American Career College-Los Angeles?
Cuyamaca College, at $6,618 a year after aid versus $32,408 — a gap of $25,790 a year, or $116,396 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Cuyamaca College or American Career College-Los Angeles graduates earn more?
American Career College-Los Angeles graduates report a median $38,430 ten years after entry, $5,995 more than the $32,435 at Cuyamaca 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?
75% of students finish at American Career College-Los Angeles, against 41% at Cuyamaca 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.