COM vs. Northwest Vista College

Comparable Facts

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

Northwest Vista College is larger than COM based on total student enrollment (20,060 students vs. 5,127 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Mainland is located in Texas City, TX (Small Suburban setting); Northwest Vista College is in San Antonio, TX (Rural Fringe setting).
• College of the Mainland is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northwest Vista College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Mainland 18:1; Northwest Vista College 33:1.

COM vs. Northwest Vista College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, COM or Northwest Vista 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 College of the Mainland than Northwest Vista College ($3,252 vs. $5,813).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Mainland are 56.2% lower than at Northwest Vista College ($6,236 vs. $14,250).
• Northwest Vista College is 60.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than COM (about $2,092 more per year; $5,542.00 vs. $3,450.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 140.4% higher at Northwest Vista College than at College of the Mainland (about $5,812 more per year; $9,952.00 vs. $4,140.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwest Vista College than at College of the Mainland (87% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northwest Vista College students is 9.6% larger than aid received by College of the Mainland students ($5,689 vs. $5,191).

COM vs. Northwest Vista College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, COM or Northwest Vista 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 Northwest Vista College and COM.

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

COM vs. Northwest Vista College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for COM and Northwest Vista 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 Northwest Vista College earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than COM graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,800 vs. $35,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Mainland graduates have a $756 lower median loan debt than Northwest Vista College graduates ($7,224 vs. $7,980).
• Among borrowers, COM graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwest Vista College graduates ($74 vs. $82).
• More Northwest Vista College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former COM students, three years after graduation. (37% 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.