Head-to-head comparison
Allan Hancock College vs Academy of Art University: which has better ROI?
Option A Santa Maria, CA
Allan Hancock College
- Net price / year
- $5,383
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,786
- Payback
- No payback
Option B San Francisco, CA
Academy of Art University
- Net price / year
- $40,613
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,008
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Allan Hancock College comes closer — median earnings $42,786 against a $21,532 total, vs $39,008 at Academy of Art University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Allan Hancock College | Academy of Art University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,383 | $40,613 |
| Total net cost | $21,532 | $162,452 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,786 | $39,008 |
| Median debt | — | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$133,012 | -$349,492 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Allan Hancock College or Academy of Art University?
Allan Hancock College, at $5,383 a year after aid versus $40,613 — a gap of $35,230 a year, or $140,920 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Allan Hancock College or Academy of Art University graduates earn more?
Allan Hancock College graduates report a median $42,786 ten years after entry, $3,778 more than the $39,008 at Academy of Art University. 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.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
34% of students finish at Academy of Art University, 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.