San Diego Mesa College vs Advance Beauty College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but San Diego Mesa College comes closer — median earnings $45,120 against a $11,628 total, vs $11,575 at Advance Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | San Diego Mesa College | Advance Beauty College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,814 | $10,358 |
| Total net cost | $11,628 | $41,432 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,120 | $11,575 |
| Median debt | $4,725 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$76,428 | -$777,132 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, San Diego Mesa College or Advance Beauty College?
San Diego Mesa College, at $5,814 a year after aid versus $10,358 — a gap of $4,544 a year, or $29,804 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 Mesa College or Advance Beauty College graduates earn more?
San Diego Mesa College graduates report a median $45,120 ten years after entry, $33,545 more than the $11,575 at Advance 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?
67% of students finish at Advance Beauty College, against 35% at San Diego Mesa 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.