Pasadena City College vs American Career College-Anaheim: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Pasadena City College comes closer — median earnings $43,937 against a $7,728 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Anaheim. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pasadena City College | American Career College-Anaheim |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,864 | $31,218 |
| Total net cost | $7,728 | $124,872 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,937 | $38,430 |
| Median debt | $6,651 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$96,188 | -$323,472 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Pasadena City College or American Career College-Anaheim?
Pasadena City College, at $3,864 a year after aid versus $31,218 — a gap of $27,354 a year, or $117,144 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Pasadena City College or American Career College-Anaheim graduates earn more?
Pasadena City College graduates report a median $43,937 ten years after entry, $5,507 more than the $38,430 at American Career College-Anaheim. 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, Pasadena City College or American Career College-Anaheim?
Pasadena City College: its completers carry a median $6,651 in federal loans versus $9,500 at American Career College-Anaheim, a difference of $2,849. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
70% of students finish at American Career College-Anaheim, against 48% at Pasadena City 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.