Santa Monica College vs American Career College-Los Angeles: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Santa Monica College comes closer — median earnings $42,193 against a $5,558 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Los Angeles. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Santa Monica College | American Career College-Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $2,779 | $32,408 |
| Total net cost | $5,558 | $129,632 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,193 | $38,430 |
| Median debt | $6,450 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$128,898 | -$328,232 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Santa Monica College or American Career College-Los Angeles?
Santa Monica College, at $2,779 a year after aid versus $32,408 — a gap of $29,629 a year, or $124,074 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 Monica College or American Career College-Los Angeles graduates earn more?
Santa Monica College graduates report a median $42,193 ten years after entry, $3,763 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 leaves students with less debt, Santa Monica College or American Career College-Los Angeles?
Santa Monica College: its completers carry a median $6,450 in federal loans versus $9,500 at American Career College-Los Angeles, a difference of $3,050. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
75% of students finish at American Career College-Los Angeles, against 36% at Santa Monica 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.