Head-to-head comparison
Allan Hancock College vs North-West College-San Diego: 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 Diego, CA
North-West College-San Diego
- Net price / year
- $46,503
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,472
- 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 $41,472 at North-West College-San Diego. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Allan Hancock College | North-West College-San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,383 | $46,503 |
| Total net cost | $21,532 | $93,006 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,786 | $41,472 |
| Median debt | — | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$133,012 | -$230,766 |
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 North-West College-San Diego?
Allan Hancock College, at $5,383 a year after aid versus $46,503 — a gap of $41,120 a year, or $71,474 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 North-West College-San Diego graduates earn more?
Allan Hancock College graduates report a median $42,786 ten years after entry, $1,314 more than the $41,472 at North-West College-San Diego. 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.