COM vs. South Plains College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Mainland in Texas City, TX with South Plains College in Levelland, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

South Plains College is larger than COM based on total student enrollment (9,098 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); South Plains College is in Levelland, TX (Distant Town setting).
• College of the Mainland is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. South Plains College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Mainland 18:1; South Plains College 16:1.

COM vs. South Plains College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, COM or South Plains 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 South Plains College ($3,252 vs. $6,494).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at South Plains College are 12.1% lower than at College of the Mainland ($5,481 vs. $6,236).
• South Plains College is 38.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than COM (about $1,321 more per year; $4,771.00 vs. $3,450.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 24.5% higher at South Plains College than at College of the Mainland (about $1,015 more per year; $5,155.00 vs. $4,140.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Mainland than at South Plains College (81% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by South Plains College students is 37% larger than aid received by College of the Mainland students ($7,114 vs. $5,191).

COM vs. South Plains College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, COM or South Plains 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 South Plains 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; South Plains College - Open admission.

COM vs. South Plains College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for COM and South Plains 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 South Plains College earn a median of about $3,700 more per year than COM graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,300 vs. $35,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Mainland graduates have a $3,276 lower median loan debt than South Plains College graduates ($7,224 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, COM graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than South Plains College graduates ($74 vs. $108).
• More South Plains College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former COM students, three years after graduation. (40% 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.