UEI College-Gardena vs American Beauty College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but UEI College-Gardena comes closer — median earnings $30,848 against a $114,764 total, vs $22,481 at American Beauty College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | UEI College-Gardena | American Beauty College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,691 | $25,781 |
| Total net cost | $114,764 | $103,124 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $30,848 | $22,481 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $5,430 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$465,004 | -$620,704 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, UEI College-Gardena or American Beauty College?
American Beauty College, at $25,781 a year after aid versus $28,691 — a gap of $2,910 a year, or $11,640 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do UEI College-Gardena or American Beauty College graduates earn more?
UEI College-Gardena graduates report a median $30,848 ten years after entry, $8,367 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, UEI College-Gardena or American Beauty College?
American Beauty College: its completers carry a median $5,430 in federal loans versus $9,500 at UEI College-Gardena, a difference of $4,070. 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 60% at UEI College-Gardena. 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.