Austin Community College District vs. Howard College

Comparable Facts

Compare Austin Community College District in Austin, TX with Howard College in Big Spring, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Austin Community College District is larger than Howard College based on total student enrollment (39,727 students vs. 4,101 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Austin Community College District is located in Austin, TX (Large City setting); Howard College is in Big Spring, TX (Remote Town setting).
• Austin Community College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Howard College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Austin Community College District 19:1; Howard College 25:1.

Austin Community College District vs. Howard College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Austin Community College District or Howard 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 Austin Community College District than Howard College ($5,466 vs. $6,491).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Howard College are 66.8% lower than at Austin Community College District ($6,064 vs. $18,240).
• Austin Community College District is 62.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Howard College (about $3,314 more per year; $8,580.00 vs. $5,266.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 57.7% higher at Austin Community College District than at Howard College (about $3,874 more per year; $10,590.00 vs. $6,716.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Howard College than at Austin Community College District (81% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Austin Community College District students is 27.1% larger than aid received by Howard College students ($9,527 vs. $7,494).

Austin Community College District vs. Howard College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Austin Community College District or Howard 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 Howard College and Austin Community College District.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Austin Community College District - Open admission; Howard College - Open admission.

Austin Community College District vs. Howard College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Austin Community College District and Howard 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 Austin Community College District earn a median of about $5,200 more per year than Howard College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,200 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Howard College graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than Austin Community College District graduates ($6,750 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, Howard College graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Austin Community College District graduates ($69 vs. $77).
• More Howard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Austin Community College District students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.