Lake Tahoe Community College vs American Career College-Anaheim: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lake Tahoe Community College comes closer — median earnings $36,657 against a $17,032 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Anaheim. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lake Tahoe Community College | American Career College-Anaheim |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,516 | $31,218 |
| Total net cost | $17,032 | $124,872 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,657 | $38,430 |
| Median debt | — | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$251,092 | -$323,472 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Lake Tahoe Community College or American Career College-Anaheim?
Lake Tahoe Community College, at $8,516 a year after aid versus $31,218 — a gap of $22,702 a year, or $107,840 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Lake Tahoe Community College or American Career College-Anaheim graduates earn more?
American Career College-Anaheim graduates report a median $38,430 ten years after entry, $1,773 more than the $36,657 at Lake Tahoe Community 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?
70% of students finish at American Career College-Anaheim, against 45% at Lake Tahoe Community 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.