Los Angeles Film School vs American Career College-Los Angeles: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but American Career College-Los Angeles comes closer — median earnings $38,430 against a $129,632 total, vs $31,632 at Los Angeles Film School. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Los Angeles Film School | American Career College-Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $30,980 | $32,408 |
| Total net cost | $123,920 | $129,632 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $31,632 | $38,430 |
| Median debt | $25,250 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$458,480 | -$328,232 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Los Angeles Film School or American Career College-Los Angeles?
Los Angeles Film School, at $30,980 a year after aid versus $32,408 — a gap of $1,428 a year, or $5,712 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Los Angeles Film School or American Career College-Los Angeles graduates earn more?
American Career College-Los Angeles graduates report a median $38,430 ten years after entry, $6,798 more than the $31,632 at Los Angeles Film School. 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, Los Angeles Film School or American Career College-Los Angeles?
American Career College-Los Angeles: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $25,250 at Los Angeles Film School, a difference of $15,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
75% of students finish at American Career College-Los Angeles, against 41% at Los Angeles Film School. 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.