Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Allan Hancock College vs Associated Technical College-Los Angeles: which has better ROI?

Public, Santa Maria CA · vs · Private for-profit, Los Angeles CA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Allan Hancock College comes closer — median earnings $42,786 against a $21,532 total, vs $24,368 at Associated Technical College-Los Angeles. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureAllan Hancock CollegeAssociated Technical College-Los Angeles
Net price / yr$5,383$23,629
Total net cost$21,532$94,516
Median earnings, 10 yrs$42,786$24,368
Median debt$9,500
Payback
20-year net return-$133,012-$574,356

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Allan Hancock College or Associated Technical College-Los Angeles?

Allan Hancock College, at $5,383 a year after aid versus $23,629 — a gap of $18,246 a year, or $72,984 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Allan Hancock College or Associated Technical College-Los Angeles graduates earn more?

Allan Hancock College graduates report a median $42,786 ten years after entry, $18,418 more than the $24,368 at Associated Technical 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 graduates more of its students?

90% of students finish at Associated Technical College-Los Angeles, against 26% at Allan Hancock 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.

Allan Hancock College vs Associated Technical College-Los Angeles: frequently asked questions

Is Allan Hancock College or Associated Technical College-Los Angeles a better value?
Allan Hancock College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Allan Hancock College or Associated Technical College-Los Angeles?
Allan Hancock College: $5,383/yr net price after aid versus $23,629/yr at Associated Technical College-Los Angeles — a difference of $18,246 a year, or about $72,984 over four years.
Do Allan Hancock College or Associated Technical College-Los Angeles graduates earn more?
Allan Hancock College graduates earn a median $42,786 ten years after entry, versus $24,368 at Associated Technical College-Los Angeles — a $18,418 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.