Alvin vs. Palo Alto College

Comparable Facts

Compare Alvin Community College in Alvin, TX with Palo Alto College in San Antonio, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Palo Alto College is larger than Alvin based on total student enrollment (12,395 students vs. 5,872 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Alvin Community College is located in Alvin, TX (Large Suburban setting); Palo Alto College is in San Antonio, TX (Large City setting).
• Alvin Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palo Alto College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Alvin Community College 19:1; Palo Alto College 31:1.

Alvin vs. Palo Alto College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alvin or Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto College than Alvin ($4,805 vs. $9,268).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alvin Community College are 40.9% lower than at Palo Alto College ($8,418 vs. $14,250).
• Palo Alto College is 77.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Alvin (about $2,412 more per year; $5,542.00 vs. $3,130.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 126.1% higher at Palo Alto College than at Alvin Community College (about $5,550 more per year; $9,952.00 vs. $4,402.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palo Alto College than at Alvin Community College (92% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Alvin Community College students is 8.4% larger than aid received by Palo Alto College students ($7,571 vs. $6,983).

Alvin vs. Palo Alto College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Alvin or Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto College 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; Palo Alto College - Open admission.

Alvin vs. Palo Alto College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Alvin and Palo Alto 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 Alvin Community College earn a median of about $8,600 more per year than Palo Alto College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $31,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have a $627 lower median loan debt than Alvin graduates ($5,500 vs. $6,127).
• Among borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Alvin graduates ($56 vs. $63).
• More Alvin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palo Alto College students, three years after graduation. (50% vs. 38%)

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.