Cisco College vs. Palo Alto College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cisco College in Cisco, 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 Cisco College based on total student enrollment (12,395 students vs. 3,160 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cisco College is located in Cisco, TX (Rural Fringe setting); Palo Alto College is in San Antonio, TX (Large City setting).
• Cisco College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palo Alto College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cisco College 14:1; Palo Alto College 31:1.

Cisco College vs. Palo Alto College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cisco College 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 Cisco College ($4,805 vs. $10,189).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cisco College are 62.3% lower than at Palo Alto College ($5,366 vs. $14,250).
• Cisco College is 9.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palo Alto College (about $518 more per year; $6,060.00 vs. $5,542.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 39.4% higher at Palo Alto College than at Cisco College (about $2,812 more per year; $9,952.00 vs. $7,140.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palo Alto College than at Cisco College (92% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cisco College students is 3.2% larger than aid received by Palo Alto College students ($7,205 vs. $6,983).

Cisco College vs. Palo Alto College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cisco College 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 Cisco College.

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

Cisco College vs. Palo Alto College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cisco College 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 Cisco College earn a median of about $3,400 more per year than Palo Alto College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,200 vs. $31,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Palo Alto College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cisco College students, three years after graduation. (38% vs. 36%)

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.