Austin Community College District vs. Palo Alto College

Comparable Facts

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

Austin Community College District is larger than Palo Alto College based on total student enrollment (39,727 students vs. 12,395 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Austin Community College District vs. Palo Alto College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Austin Community College District 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 Austin Community College District ($4,805 vs. $5,466).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Palo Alto College are 21.9% lower than at Austin Community College District ($14,250 vs. $18,240).
• Austin Community College District is 54.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palo Alto College (about $3,038 more per year; $8,580.00 vs. $5,542.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.4% higher at Austin Community College District than at Palo Alto College (about $638 more per year; $10,590.00 vs. $9,952.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palo Alto College than at Austin Community College District (92% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Austin Community College District students is 36.4% larger than aid received by Palo Alto College students ($9,527 vs. $6,983).

Austin Community College District vs. Palo Alto College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Austin Community College District 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 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; Palo Alto College - Open admission.

Austin Community College District vs. Palo Alto College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Austin Community College District 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 Austin Community College District earn a median of about $7,400 more per year than Palo Alto College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,200 vs. $31,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Austin Community College District graduates ($5,500 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Austin Community College District graduates ($56 vs. $77).
• More Austin Community College District graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palo Alto College students, three years after graduation. (38% 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.