El Camino Community College District vs American Career College-Los Angeles: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but El Camino Community College District comes closer — median earnings $41,589 against a $11,936 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Los Angeles. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | El Camino Community College District | American Career College-Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,968 | $32,408 |
| Total net cost | $11,936 | $129,632 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,589 | $38,430 |
| Median debt | — | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$147,356 | -$328,232 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, El Camino Community College District or American Career College-Los Angeles?
El Camino Community College District, at $5,968 a year after aid versus $32,408 — a gap of $26,440 a year, or $117,696 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do El Camino Community College District or American Career College-Los Angeles graduates earn more?
El Camino Community College District graduates report a median $41,589 ten years after entry, $3,159 more than the $38,430 at American Career College-Los Angeles. 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 42% at El Camino Community College District. 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.