Santa Barbara City College vs Allan Hancock College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Santa Barbara City College comes closer — median earnings $47,647 against a $22,630 total, vs $42,786 at Allan Hancock College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Santa Barbara City College | Allan Hancock College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,315 | $5,383 |
| Total net cost | $22,630 | $21,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,647 | $42,786 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$36,890 | -$133,012 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Santa Barbara City College or Allan Hancock College?
Allan Hancock College, at $5,383 a year after aid versus $11,315 — a gap of $5,932 a year, or $1,098 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Santa Barbara City College or Allan Hancock College graduates earn more?
Santa Barbara City College graduates report a median $47,647 ten years after entry, $4,861 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?
34% of students finish at Santa Barbara 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.