Folsom Lake College vs American Career College-Los Angeles: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Folsom Lake College comes closer — median earnings $42,568 against a $11,950 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Los Angeles. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Folsom Lake College | American Career College-Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,975 | $32,408 |
| Total net cost | $11,950 | $129,632 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,568 | $38,430 |
| Median debt | — | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$127,790 | -$328,232 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Folsom Lake College or American Career College-Los Angeles?
Folsom Lake College, at $5,975 a year after aid versus $32,408 — a gap of $26,433 a year, or $117,682 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 Career College-Los Angeles graduates earn more?
Folsom Lake College graduates report a median $42,568 ten years after entry, $4,138 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 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.