Degree Dividend
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Orange Coast College vs Allan Hancock College: which has better ROI?

Public, Costa Mesa CA · vs · Public, Santa Maria CA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Orange Coast College comes closer — median earnings $47,348 against a $28,812 total, vs $42,786 at Allan Hancock College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureOrange Coast CollegeAllan Hancock College
Net price / yr$7,203$5,383
Total net cost$28,812$21,532
Median earnings, 10 yrs$47,348$42,786
Median debt$9,500
Payback
20-year net return-$49,052-$133,012

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

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

Allan Hancock College, at $5,383 a year after aid versus $7,203 — a gap of $1,820 a year, or $7,280 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Orange Coast College or Allan Hancock College graduates earn more?

Orange Coast College graduates report a median $47,348 ten years after entry, $4,562 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?

48% of students finish at Orange Coast 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.

Orange Coast College vs Allan Hancock College: frequently asked questions

Is Orange Coast College or Allan Hancock College a better value?
Orange Coast 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, Orange Coast College or Allan Hancock College?
Allan Hancock College: $5,383/yr net price after aid versus $7,203/yr at Orange Coast College — a difference of $1,820 a year, or about $7,280 over four years.
Do Orange Coast College or Allan Hancock College graduates earn more?
Orange Coast College graduates earn a median $47,348 ten years after entry, versus $42,786 at Allan Hancock College — a $4,562 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.