Fullerton College vs American Career College-Anaheim: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Fullerton College comes closer — median earnings $43,366 against a $12,268 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Anaheim. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Fullerton College | American Career College-Anaheim |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,134 | $31,218 |
| Total net cost | $12,268 | $124,872 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,366 | $38,430 |
| Median debt | $4,500 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$112,148 | -$323,472 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Fullerton College or American Career College-Anaheim?
Fullerton College, at $6,134 a year after aid versus $31,218 — a gap of $25,084 a year, or $112,604 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Fullerton College or American Career College-Anaheim graduates earn more?
Fullerton College graduates report a median $43,366 ten years after entry, $4,936 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, Fullerton College or American Career College-Anaheim?
Fullerton College: its completers carry a median $4,500 in federal loans versus $9,500 at American Career College-Anaheim, a difference of $5,000. 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 34% at Fullerton 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.