Hartnell College vs American Career College-Los Angeles: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Hartnell College comes closer — median earnings $44,316 against a $4,078 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Los Angeles. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Hartnell College | American Career College-Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $2,039 | $32,408 |
| Total net cost | $4,078 | $129,632 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,316 | $38,430 |
| Median debt | — | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$84,958 | -$328,232 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Hartnell College or American Career College-Los Angeles?
Hartnell College, at $2,039 a year after aid versus $32,408 — a gap of $30,369 a year, or $125,554 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Hartnell College or American Career College-Los Angeles graduates earn more?
Hartnell College graduates report a median $44,316 ten years after entry, $5,886 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 40% at Hartnell 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.