Los Angeles Southwest College vs American Career College-Anaheim: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but American Career College-Anaheim comes closer — median earnings $38,430 against a $124,872 total, vs $32,172 at Los Angeles Southwest College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Los Angeles Southwest College | American Career College-Anaheim |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,964 | $31,218 |
| Total net cost | $11,928 | $124,872 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,172 | $38,430 |
| Median debt | — | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$335,688 | -$323,472 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Los Angeles Southwest College or American Career College-Anaheim?
Los Angeles Southwest College, at $5,964 a year after aid versus $31,218 — a gap of $25,254 a year, or $112,944 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 Southwest College or American Career College-Anaheim graduates earn more?
American Career College-Anaheim graduates report a median $38,430 ten years after entry, $6,258 more than the $32,172 at Los Angeles Southwest 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 34% at Los Angeles Southwest 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.