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Allan Hancock College vs Career Academy of Beauty: which has better ROI?

Public, Santa Maria CA · vs · Private for-profit, Garden Grove 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 $24,410 at Career Academy of Beauty. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureAllan Hancock CollegeCareer Academy of Beauty
Net price / yr$5,383$17,769
Total net cost$21,532$71,076
Median earnings, 10 yrs$42,786$24,410
Median debt$6,333
Payback
20-year net return-$133,012-$550,076

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

Which is cheaper, Allan Hancock College or Career Academy of Beauty?

Allan Hancock College, at $5,383 a year after aid versus $17,769 — a gap of $12,386 a year, or $49,544 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 Career Academy of Beauty graduates earn more?

Allan Hancock College graduates report a median $42,786 ten years after entry, $18,376 more than the $24,410 at Career Academy of Beauty. 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?

92% of students finish at Career Academy of Beauty, 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 Career Academy of Beauty: frequently asked questions

Is Allan Hancock College or Career Academy of Beauty 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 Career Academy of Beauty?
Allan Hancock College: $5,383/yr net price after aid versus $17,769/yr at Career Academy of Beauty — a difference of $12,386 a year, or about $49,544 over four years.
Do Allan Hancock College or Career Academy of Beauty graduates earn more?
Allan Hancock College graduates earn a median $42,786 ten years after entry, versus $24,410 at Career Academy of Beauty — a $18,376 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.