Allan Hancock College vs. Merritt College

Comparable Facts

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

Allan Hancock College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (11,463 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Allan Hancock College is located in Santa Maria, CA (Small City setting); Merritt College is in Oakland, CA (Large City setting).
• Allan Hancock College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Allan Hancock College 28:1; Merritt College 33:1.

Allan Hancock College vs. Merritt College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Allan Hancock College or Merritt 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 Merritt College ($8,029 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Allan Hancock College are 14.9% lower than at Merritt College ($19,431 vs. $22,820).
• Merritt College is 8.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Allan Hancock College (about $102 more per year; $1,258.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.1% higher at Merritt College than at Allan Hancock College (about $6 more per year; $9,898.00 vs. $9,892.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Allan Hancock College than at Merritt College (73% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Allan Hancock College students is 10.5% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($5,495 vs. $4,972).

Allan Hancock College vs. Merritt College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Allan Hancock College or Merritt 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 Merritt 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; Merritt College - Open admission.

Allan Hancock College vs. Merritt College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Allan Hancock College and Merritt 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 Merritt College earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than Allan Hancock College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Allan Hancock College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($10,500 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, Allan Hancock College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($108 vs. $118).
• More Allan Hancock College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (28% vs. 27%)

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.