At $27,397/yr net price, American Career College-Anaheim graduates earn $38,430/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $4,430/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $27,397 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $109,588 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $38,430/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$4,430/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 24.7 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 69.9% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $9,500 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $25,481/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $28,669/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $28,508/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $29,764/yr |
| $110,001+ | $30,528/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Associate | $42,329 | $23,969 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Associate | $38,829 | $27,000 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. | Certificate | $37,793 | $17,200 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Certificate | $26,783 | $9,500 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Certificate | $23,714 | $9,500 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. | Certificate | $21,904 | $8,444 |
The Risk Factor
69.9% of students at American Career College-Anaheim graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 30% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
American Career College-Anaheim gives you weak financial returns for what you pay. You spend more than $27,000 a year to attend, and ten years after enrolling the median graduate earns just over $38,000. That is barely above what a full-time minimum-wage job pays in California, and it comes after you have covered two years of tuition.
Your best bet here is the allied health diagnostic and treatment track, which pays the most of any program. But it also loads you with nearly $24,000 in debt, so the higher pay does not translate into a clean win. The strongest value is actually the practical and vocational nursing certificate: it pays close to the top associate programs while keeping debt under $18,000. If you enroll, this is the program that most reliably pays for itself.
The programs to avoid are the medical assisting and administrative certificates at the bottom, where earnings drop to the mid-$20,000s. At those wages you are barely clearing the cost of attending, and any misstep leaves you underwater.
The specific risk here is the mismatch between price and payoff. The medical assisting associate degree saddles you with $27,000 in debt to earn under $39,000. High tuition plus modest healthcare-support wages is a tight equation, and the 30% of students who do not graduate get the cost without the credential.
The net price barely moves by income. If your family earns under $30,000, you still pay over $25,000 a year, and higher-income families pay only a few thousand more. This school makes sense if you want a fast route into a specific clinical job like vocational nursing. If you are choosing a lower-paid administrative certificate, a community college will get you similar work for a fraction of the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is American Career College-Anaheim worth the cost?
With a net price of $27,397 per year and median earnings of $38,430 ten years after graduation, American Career College-Anaheim offers marginal returns. The debt-to-income ratio is manageable with median debt at $9,500, but earnings potential varies significantly by program.
Which programs at American Career College-Anaheim have the best ROI?
Allied Health Diagnostic programs offer the strongest returns at $42,329 median earnings, followed by Medical Assisting Services at $38,829. Health and Medical Administrative Services programs show weaker outcomes at $26,783, making program choice critical for ROI.
What is the graduation rate at American Career College-Anaheim?
American Career College-Anaheim has a 69.90% graduation rate, which is below average for career colleges. Nearly one in three students don't complete their programs, adding risk to your investment.
How much debt do American Career College-Anaheim graduates have?
The median debt load is $9,500, which is relatively low compared to the annual net price of $27,397. Most students likely pay significant amounts out of pocket or through financial aid rather than borrowing.