San Diego City College vs American Beauty College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but San Diego City College comes closer — median earnings $38,503 against a $15,870 total, vs $22,481 at American Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | San Diego City College | American Beauty College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,935 | $25,781 |
| Total net cost | $15,870 | $103,124 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,503 | $22,481 |
| Median debt | $7,689 | $5,430 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$213,010 | -$620,704 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, San Diego City College or American Beauty College?
San Diego City College, at $7,935 a year after aid versus $25,781 — a gap of $17,846 a year, or $87,254 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 Diego City College or American Beauty College graduates earn more?
San Diego City College graduates report a median $38,503 ten years after entry, $16,022 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, San Diego City College or American Beauty College?
American Beauty College: its completers carry a median $5,430 in federal loans versus $7,689 at San Diego City College, a difference of $2,259. 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 30% at San Diego 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.