Allan Hancock College vs. Southwestern College

Comparable Facts

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

Southwestern College is larger than Allan Hancock College based on total student enrollment (20,986 students vs. 11,463 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Allan Hancock College is located in Santa Maria, CA (Small City setting); Southwestern College is in Chula Vista, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Allan Hancock College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Allan Hancock College 28:1; Southwestern College 26:1.

Allan Hancock College vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Allan Hancock College or Southwestern 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 Southwestern College ($8,029 vs. $15,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Allan Hancock College are 18.7% lower than at Southwestern College ($19,431 vs. $23,897).
• Southwestern College is 16.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Allan Hancock College (about $188 more per year; $1,344.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.6% higher at Southwestern College than at Allan Hancock College (about $748 more per year; $10,640.00 vs. $9,892.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern College than at Allan Hancock College (86% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern College students is 24.1% larger than aid received by Allan Hancock College students ($6,821 vs. $5,495).

Allan Hancock College vs. Southwestern College Admissions comparison

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

Allan Hancock College vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Allan Hancock College and Southwestern 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 Southwestern College earn a median of about $100 more per year than Allan Hancock College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,100 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than Allan Hancock College graduates ($4,500 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Allan Hancock College graduates ($46 vs. $108).
• More Southwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Allan Hancock College students, three years after graduation. (36% 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.