San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia vs American Career College-Anaheim: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia comes closer — median earnings $38,317 against a $111,416 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Anaheim. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia | American Career College-Anaheim |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,854 | $31,218 |
| Total net cost | $111,416 | $124,872 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,317 | $38,430 |
| Median debt | $10,674 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$312,276 | -$323,472 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia or American Career College-Anaheim?
San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia, at $27,854 a year after aid versus $31,218 — a gap of $3,364 a year, or $13,456 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 Joaquin Valley College-Visalia or American Career College-Anaheim graduates earn more?
American Career College-Anaheim graduates report a median $38,430 ten years after entry, $113 more than the $38,317 at San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia. 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 Joaquin Valley College-Visalia or American Career College-Anaheim?
American Career College-Anaheim: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $10,674 at San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia, a difference of $1,174. 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 36% at San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia. 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.