Ventura College vs American Career College-Los Angeles: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Ventura College comes closer — median earnings $43,430 against a -$1,964 total, vs $38,430 at American Career College-Los Angeles. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ventura College | American Career College-Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | -$982 | $32,408 |
| Total net cost | -$1,964 | $129,632 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,430 | $38,430 |
| Median debt | $13,876 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$96,636 | -$328,232 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Ventura College or American Career College-Los Angeles?
Ventura College, at -$982 a year after aid versus $32,408 — a gap of $33,390 a year, or $131,596 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Ventura College or American Career College-Los Angeles graduates earn more?
Ventura College graduates report a median $43,430 ten years after entry, $5,000 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, Ventura College or American Career College-Los Angeles?
American Career College-Los Angeles: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $13,876 at Ventura College, a difference of $4,376. 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 38% at Ventura 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.