College of the Desert vs Allan Hancock College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Allan Hancock College comes closer — median earnings $42,786 against a $21,532 total, vs $39,020 at College of the Desert. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of the Desert | Allan Hancock College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,728 | $5,383 |
| Total net cost | $62,912 | $21,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,020 | $42,786 |
| Median debt | — | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$249,712 | -$133,012 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, College of the Desert or Allan Hancock College?
Allan Hancock College, at $5,383 a year after aid versus $15,728 — a gap of $10,345 a year, or $41,380 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do College of the Desert or Allan Hancock College graduates earn more?
Allan Hancock College graduates report a median $42,786 ten years after entry, $3,766 more than the $39,020 at College of the Desert. 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?
31% of students finish at College of the Desert, 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.