Allan Hancock College vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

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

Palomar College is larger than Allan Hancock College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 11,463 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Allan Hancock College is located in Santa Maria, CA (Small City setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
• Allan Hancock College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Allan Hancock College 28:1; Palomar College 25:1.

Allan Hancock College vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Allan Hancock College or Palomar 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 Palomar College ($8,029 vs. $8,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Allan Hancock College are 24.7% lower than at Palomar College ($19,431 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 17.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Allan Hancock College (about $198 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.7% higher at Palomar College than at Allan Hancock College (about $758 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $9,892.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palomar College than at Allan Hancock College (81% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Allan Hancock College students is 10.5% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($5,495 vs. $4,972).

Allan Hancock College vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

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

Allan Hancock College vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Allan Hancock College and Palomar 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 Palomar College earn a median of about $5,700 more per year than Allan Hancock College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palomar College graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than Allan Hancock College graduates ($7,000 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Palomar College graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Allan Hancock College graduates ($72 vs. $108).
• More Palomar College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Allan Hancock College students, three years after graduation. (30% 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.