Cypress College vs American Career College-Anaheim: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cypress College comes closer — median earnings $43,533 against a $18,424 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Anaheim. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cypress College | American Career College-Anaheim |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,606 | $31,218 |
| Total net cost | $18,424 | $124,872 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,533 | $38,430 |
| Median debt | $10,000 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$114,964 | -$323,472 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Cypress College or American Career College-Anaheim?
Cypress College, at $4,606 a year after aid versus $31,218 — a gap of $26,612 a year, or $106,448 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Cypress College or American Career College-Anaheim graduates earn more?
Cypress College graduates report a median $43,533 ten years after entry, $5,103 more than the $38,430 at American Career College-Anaheim. 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, Cypress College or American Career College-Anaheim?
American Career College-Anaheim: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $10,000 at Cypress College, a difference of $500. 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 37% at Cypress 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.