Alvin vs. COM

Comparable Facts

Compare Alvin Community College in Alvin, TX with College of the Mainland in Texas City, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Alvin Community College is larger than COM based on total student enrollment (5,872 students vs. 5,127 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Alvin Community College is located in Alvin, TX (Large Suburban setting); College of the Mainland is in Texas City, TX (Small Suburban setting).
• Alvin Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of the Mainland is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Alvin Community College 19:1; College of the Mainland 18:1.

Alvin vs. COM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alvin or COM? 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 College of the Mainland than Alvin ($3,252 vs. $9,268).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Mainland are 25.9% lower than at Alvin Community College ($6,236 vs. $8,418).
• College of the Mainland is 10.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Alvin (about $320 more per year; $3,450.00 vs. $3,130.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.3% higher at Alvin than at College of the Mainland (about $262 more per year; $4,402.00 vs. $4,140.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Mainland than at Alvin Community College (81% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Alvin Community College students is 45.8% larger than aid received by College of the Mainland students ($7,571 vs. $5,191).

Alvin vs. COM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Alvin or COM? 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 COM and Alvin.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Alvin - Open admission; COM - Open admission.

Alvin vs. COM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Alvin and COM? 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 Alvin Community College earn a median of about $4,800 more per year than COM graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $35,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Alvin Community College graduates have a $1,097 lower median loan debt than COM graduates ($6,127 vs. $7,224).
• Among borrowers, Alvin graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than COM graduates ($63 vs. $74).
• More Alvin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former COM students, three years after graduation. (50% vs. 31%)

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.