Southwestern College vs American Beauty College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Southwestern College comes closer — median earnings $40,060 against a $25,342 total, vs $22,481 at American Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southwestern College | American Beauty College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,671 | $25,781 |
| Total net cost | $25,342 | $103,124 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,060 | $22,481 |
| Median debt | $4,500 | $5,430 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$191,342 | -$620,704 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Southwestern College or American Beauty College?
Southwestern College, at $12,671 a year after aid versus $25,781 — a gap of $13,110 a year, or $77,782 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Southwestern College or American Beauty College graduates earn more?
Southwestern College graduates report a median $40,060 ten years after entry, $17,579 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, Southwestern College or American Beauty College?
Southwestern College: its completers carry a median $4,500 in federal loans versus $5,430 at American Beauty College, a difference of $930. 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 36% at Southwestern 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.