San Bernardino Valley College vs American Career College-Los Angeles: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but San Bernardino Valley College comes closer — median earnings $39,676 against a $37,886 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Los Angeles. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | San Bernardino Valley College | American Career College-Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,943 | $32,408 |
| Total net cost | $37,886 | $129,632 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,676 | $38,430 |
| Median debt | — | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$211,566 | -$328,232 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, San Bernardino Valley College or American Career College-Los Angeles?
San Bernardino Valley College, at $18,943 a year after aid versus $32,408 — a gap of $13,465 a year, or $91,746 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do San Bernardino Valley College or American Career College-Los Angeles graduates earn more?
San Bernardino Valley College graduates report a median $39,676 ten years after entry, $1,246 more than the $38,430 at American Career College-Los Angeles. 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?
75% of students finish at American Career College-Los Angeles, against 28% at San Bernardino Valley 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.