Allan Hancock College vs. West Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

Allan Hancock College is larger than West Valley College based on total student enrollment (11,463 students vs. 7,655 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Allan Hancock College is located in Santa Maria, CA (Small City setting); West Valley College is in Saratoga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Allan Hancock College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. West Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Allan Hancock College 28:1; West Valley College 29:1.

Allan Hancock College vs. West Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Allan Hancock College or West Valley 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 West Valley College than Allan Hancock College ($7,270 vs. $8,029).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Allan Hancock College are 45% lower than at West Valley College ($19,431 vs. $35,361).
• West Valley College is 28.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Allan Hancock College (about $334 more per year; $1,490.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.7% higher at Allan Hancock College than at West Valley College (about $1,190 more per year; $9,892.00 vs. $8,702.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Valley College than at Allan Hancock College (81% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Allan Hancock College students is 14.3% larger than aid received by West Valley College students ($5,495 vs. $4,806).

Allan Hancock College vs. West Valley College Admissions comparison

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

Allan Hancock College vs. West Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Allan Hancock College and West Valley 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 West Valley College earn a median of about $7,100 more per year than Allan Hancock College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,100 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More West Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Allan Hancock College students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.