Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Allan Hancock College vs South Coast College: which has better ROI?

Public, Santa Maria CA · vs · Private for-profit, Orange 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 $44,897 at South Coast College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureAllan Hancock CollegeSouth Coast College
Net price / yr$5,383$16,534
Total net cost$21,532$66,136
Median earnings, 10 yrs$42,786$44,897
Median debt$20,938
Payback
20-year net return-$133,012-$135,396

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

Which is cheaper, Allan Hancock College or South Coast College?

Allan Hancock College, at $5,383 a year after aid versus $16,534 — a gap of $11,151 a year, or $44,604 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 South Coast College graduates earn more?

South Coast College graduates report a median $44,897 ten years after entry, $2,111 more than the $42,786 at Allan Hancock 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?

26% of students finish at Allan Hancock College, against 17% at South Coast 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 South Coast College: frequently asked questions

Is Allan Hancock College or South Coast College 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 South Coast College?
Allan Hancock College: $5,383/yr net price after aid versus $16,534/yr at South Coast College — a difference of $11,151 a year, or about $44,604 over four years.
Do Allan Hancock College or South Coast College graduates earn more?
South Coast College graduates earn a median $44,897 ten years after entry, versus $42,786 at Allan Hancock College — a $2,111 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.