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Santa Ana College vs Advance Beauty College: which has better ROI?

Public, Santa Ana CA · vs · Private for-profit, Garden Grove CA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Santa Ana College comes closer — median earnings $43,552 against a $12,532 total, vs $11,575 at Advance Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureSanta Ana CollegeAdvance Beauty College
Net price / yr$3,133$10,358
Total net cost$12,532$41,432
Median earnings, 10 yrs$43,552$11,575
Median debt$6,871
Payback
20-year net return-$108,692-$777,132

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

Which is cheaper, Santa Ana College or Advance Beauty College?

Santa Ana College, at $3,133 a year after aid versus $10,358 — a gap of $7,225 a year, or $28,900 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Santa Ana College or Advance Beauty College graduates earn more?

Santa Ana College graduates report a median $43,552 ten years after entry, $31,977 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 31% at Santa Ana 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.

Santa Ana College vs Advance Beauty College: frequently asked questions

Is Santa Ana College or Advance Beauty College a better value?
Santa Ana 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, Santa Ana College or Advance Beauty College?
Santa Ana College: $3,133/yr net price after aid versus $10,358/yr at Advance Beauty College — a difference of $7,225 a year, or about $28,900 over four years.
Do Santa Ana College or Advance Beauty College graduates earn more?
Santa Ana College graduates earn a median $43,552 ten years after entry, versus $11,575 at Advance Beauty College — a $31,977 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.