Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Pasadena City College vs Allan Hancock College: which has better ROI?

Public, Pasadena CA · vs · Public, Santa Maria CA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Pasadena City College comes closer — median earnings $43,937 against a $7,728 total, vs $42,786 at Allan Hancock College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasurePasadena City CollegeAllan Hancock College
Net price / yr$3,864$5,383
Total net cost$7,728$21,532
Median earnings, 10 yrs$43,937$42,786
Median debt$6,651
Payback
20-year net return-$96,188-$133,012

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

Which is cheaper, Pasadena City College or Allan Hancock College?

Pasadena City College, at $3,864 a year after aid versus $5,383 — a gap of $1,519 a year, or $13,804 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Pasadena City College or Allan Hancock College graduates earn more?

Pasadena City College graduates report a median $43,937 ten years after entry, $1,151 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 Pasadena City 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.

Pasadena City College vs Allan Hancock College: frequently asked questions

Is Pasadena City College or Allan Hancock College a better value?
Pasadena City 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, Pasadena City College or Allan Hancock College?
Pasadena City College: $3,864/yr net price after aid versus $5,383/yr at Allan Hancock College — a difference of $1,519 a year, or about $13,804 over four years.
Do Pasadena City College or Allan Hancock College graduates earn more?
Pasadena City College graduates earn a median $43,937 ten years after entry, versus $42,786 at Allan Hancock College — a $1,151 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.