Degree Dividend
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Allan Hancock College vs Los Medanos College: which has better ROI?

Public, Santa Maria CA · vs · Public, Pittsburg CA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Los Medanos College comes closer — median earnings $42,454 against a $14,886 total, vs $42,786 at Allan Hancock College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureAllan Hancock CollegeLos Medanos College
Net price / yr$5,383$7,443
Total net cost$21,532$14,886
Median earnings, 10 yrs$42,786$42,454
Median debt
Payback
20-year net return-$133,012-$133,006

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

Which is cheaper, Allan Hancock College or Los Medanos College?

Allan Hancock College, at $5,383 a year after aid versus $7,443 — a gap of $2,060 a year, or $6,646 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 Los Medanos College graduates earn more?

Allan Hancock College graduates report a median $42,786 ten years after entry, $332 more than the $42,454 at Los Medanos 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 graduates more of its students?

41% of students finish at Los Medanos College, 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 Los Medanos College: frequently asked questions

Is Allan Hancock College or Los Medanos College a better value?
Los Medanos 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 Los Medanos College?
Allan Hancock College: $5,383/yr net price after aid versus $7,443/yr at Los Medanos College — a difference of $2,060 a year, or about $6,646 over four years.
Do Allan Hancock College or Los Medanos College graduates earn more?
Allan Hancock College graduates earn a median $42,786 ten years after entry, versus $42,454 at Los Medanos College — a $332 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.