Allan Hancock College vs. College of the Desert

Comparable Facts

Compare Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, CA with College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of the Desert is larger than Allan Hancock College based on total student enrollment (12,861 students vs. 11,463 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Allan Hancock College is located in Santa Maria, CA (Small City setting); College of the Desert is in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting).
• Allan Hancock College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Allan Hancock College 28:1; College of the Desert 26:1.

Allan Hancock College vs. College of the Desert Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Allan Hancock College or College of the Desert? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Allan Hancock College than College of the Desert ($8,029 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Allan Hancock College are 22.7% lower than at College of the Desert ($19,431 vs. $25,151).
• College of the Desert is 14.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Allan Hancock College (about $170 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.9% higher at College of the Desert than at Allan Hancock College (about $282 more per year; $10,174.00 vs. $9,892.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Allan Hancock College (88% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 24.1% larger than aid received by Allan Hancock College students ($6,822 vs. $5,495).

Allan Hancock College vs. College of the Desert Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Allan Hancock College or College of the Desert? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between College of the Desert and Allan Hancock College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Allan Hancock College - Open admission; College of the Desert - Open admission.

Allan Hancock College vs. College of the Desert Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Allan Hancock College and College of the Desert? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from College of the Desert earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than Allan Hancock College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $5,162 lower median loan debt than Allan Hancock College graduates ($5,338 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $53 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Allan Hancock College graduates ($55 vs. $108).
• More College of the Desert graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Allan Hancock College students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 28%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.