Degree Dividend
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Porterville College vs American Beauty College: which has better ROI?

Public, Porterville CA · vs · Private for-profit, West Covina CA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Porterville College comes closer — median earnings $36,328 against a $24,602 total, vs $22,481 at American Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasurePorterville CollegeAmerican Beauty College
Net price / yr$12,301$25,781
Total net cost$24,602$103,124
Median earnings, 10 yrs$36,328$22,481
Median debt$5,430
Payback
20-year net return-$265,242-$620,704

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

Which is cheaper, Porterville College or American Beauty College?

Porterville College, at $12,301 a year after aid versus $25,781 — a gap of $13,480 a year, or $78,522 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Porterville College or American Beauty College graduates earn more?

Porterville College graduates report a median $36,328 ten years after entry, $13,847 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 graduates more of its students?

69% of students finish at American Beauty College, against 34% at Porterville 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.

Porterville College vs American Beauty College: frequently asked questions

Is Porterville College or American Beauty College a better value?
Porterville College 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, Porterville College or American Beauty College?
Porterville College: $12,301/yr net price after aid versus $25,781/yr at American Beauty College — a difference of $13,480 a year, or about $78,522 over four years.
Do Porterville College or American Beauty College graduates earn more?
Porterville College graduates earn a median $36,328 ten years after entry, versus $22,481 at American Beauty College — a $13,847 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.