Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Milan Institute-Palm Desert vs American Beauty College: which has better ROI?

Private for-profit, Palm Desert CA · vs · Private for-profit, West Covina CA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Milan Institute-Palm Desert comes closer — median earnings $29,491 against a $98,920 total, vs $22,481 at American Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureMilan Institute-Palm DesertAmerican Beauty College
Net price / yr$24,730$25,781
Total net cost$98,920$103,124
Median earnings, 10 yrs$29,491$22,481
Median debt$7,702$5,430
Payback
20-year net return-$476,300-$620,704

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Milan Institute-Palm Desert or American Beauty College?

Milan Institute-Palm Desert, at $24,730 a year after aid versus $25,781 — a gap of $1,051 a year, or $4,204 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Milan Institute-Palm Desert or American Beauty College graduates earn more?

Milan Institute-Palm Desert graduates report a median $29,491 ten years after entry, $7,010 more than the $22,481 at American Beauty 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 leaves students with less debt, Milan Institute-Palm Desert or American Beauty College?

American Beauty College: its completers carry a median $5,430 in federal loans versus $7,702 at Milan Institute-Palm Desert, a difference of $2,272. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

69% of students finish at American Beauty College, against 48% at Milan Institute-Palm Desert. 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.

Milan Institute-Palm Desert vs American Beauty College: frequently asked questions

Is Milan Institute-Palm Desert or American Beauty College a better value?
Milan Institute-Palm Desert comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Milan Institute-Palm Desert or American Beauty College?
Milan Institute-Palm Desert: $24,730/yr net price after aid versus $25,781/yr at American Beauty College — a difference of $1,051 a year, or about $4,204 over four years.
Do Milan Institute-Palm Desert or American Beauty College graduates earn more?
Milan Institute-Palm Desert graduates earn a median $29,491 ten years after entry, versus $22,481 at American Beauty College — a $7,010 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.