Allan Hancock College vs. Cuesta College

Comparable Facts

Compare Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, CA with Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Allan Hancock College is larger than Cuesta College based on total student enrollment (11,463 students vs. 11,283 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Allan Hancock College is located in Santa Maria, CA (Small City setting); Cuesta College is in San Luis Obispo, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Allan Hancock College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Cuesta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Allan Hancock College 28:1; Cuesta College 27:1.

Allan Hancock College vs. Cuesta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Allan Hancock College or Cuesta College? 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 Cuesta College ($8,029 vs. $16,541).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Allan Hancock College are 12% lower than at Cuesta College ($19,431 vs. $22,086).
• Cuesta College is 16.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Allan Hancock College (about $194 more per year; $1,350.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.3% higher at Cuesta College than at Allan Hancock College (about $1,118 more per year; $11,010.00 vs. $9,892.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cuesta College than at Allan Hancock College (75% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Allan Hancock College students is 32.6% larger than aid received by Cuesta College students ($5,495 vs. $4,143).

Allan Hancock College vs. Cuesta College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Allan Hancock College or Cuesta College? 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 Cuesta College 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; Cuesta College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cuesta College Aug 13, 2027.

Allan Hancock College vs. Cuesta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Allan Hancock College and Cuesta College? 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 Cuesta College earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than Allan Hancock College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,800 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Allan Hancock College graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than Cuesta College graduates ($10,500 vs. $11,250).
• Among borrowers, Allan Hancock College graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cuesta College graduates ($108 vs. $116).
• More Cuesta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Allan Hancock College students, three years after graduation. (51% 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.