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Folsom Lake College vs American Beauty College: which has better ROI?

Public, Folsom CA · vs · Private for-profit, West Covina CA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Folsom Lake College comes closer — median earnings $42,568 against a $11,950 total, vs $22,481 at American Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureFolsom Lake CollegeAmerican Beauty College
Net price / yr$5,975$25,781
Total net cost$11,950$103,124
Median earnings, 10 yrs$42,568$22,481
Median debt$5,430
Payback
20-year net return-$127,790-$620,704

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Folsom Lake College or American Beauty College?

Folsom Lake College, at $5,975 a year after aid versus $25,781 — a gap of $19,806 a year, or $91,174 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Folsom Lake College or American Beauty College graduates earn more?

Folsom Lake College graduates report a median $42,568 ten years after entry, $20,087 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 44% at Folsom Lake 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.

Folsom Lake College vs American Beauty College: frequently asked questions

Is Folsom Lake College or American Beauty College a better value?
Folsom Lake College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Folsom Lake College or American Beauty College?
Folsom Lake College: $5,975/yr net price after aid versus $25,781/yr at American Beauty College — a difference of $19,806 a year, or about $91,174 over four years.
Do Folsom Lake College or American Beauty College graduates earn more?
Folsom Lake College graduates earn a median $42,568 ten years after entry, versus $22,481 at American Beauty College — a $20,087 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.