COM vs. Southwest University at El Paso

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Mainland in Texas City, TX with Southwest University at El Paso in El Paso, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of the Mainland is larger than Southwest University at El Paso based on total student enrollment (5,127 students vs. 2,130 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Mainland is located in Texas City, TX (Small Suburban setting); Southwest University at El Paso is in El Paso, TX (Large City setting).
• College of the Mainland is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwest University at El Paso is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Mainland 18:1; Southwest University at El Paso 20:1.

COM vs. Southwest University at El Paso Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, COM or Southwest University at El Paso? 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 Southwest University at El Paso ($3,252 vs. $16,906).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwest University at El Paso are 30.4% lower than at College of the Mainland ($4,340 vs. $6,236).
• Southwest University at El Paso is 363.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than COM (about $12,550 more per year; $16,000.00 vs. $3,450.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 286.5% higher at Southwest University at El Paso than at College of the Mainland (about $11,860 more per year; $16,000.00 vs. $4,140.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwest University at El Paso than at College of the Mainland (96% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwest University at El Paso students is 36.4% larger than aid received by College of the Mainland students ($7,081 vs. $5,191).

COM vs. Southwest University at El Paso Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, COM or Southwest University at El Paso? 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 Southwest University at El Paso 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; Southwest University at El Paso - Open admission.

COM vs. Southwest University at El Paso Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for COM and Southwest University at El Paso? 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).

• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Mainland graduates have a $8,276 lower median loan debt than Southwest University at El Paso graduates ($7,224 vs. $15,500).
• Among borrowers, COM graduates have an estimated $86 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Southwest University at El Paso graduates ($74 vs. $160).
• More COM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwest University at El Paso students, three years after graduation. (31% vs. 17%)

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.