COM vs. Western Texas College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Mainland is larger than Western Texas College based on total student enrollment (5,127 students vs. 1,385 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Mainland is located in Texas City, TX (Small Suburban setting); Western Texas College is in Snyder, TX (Rural Fringe setting).
• College of the Mainland is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Western Texas College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Mainland 18:1; Western Texas College 17:1.

COM vs. Western Texas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, COM or Western Texas 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 Western Texas College ($3,252 vs. $6,153).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Texas College are 7.2% lower than at College of the Mainland ($5,786 vs. $6,236).
• Western Texas College is 41.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than COM (about $1,440 more per year; $4,890.00 vs. $3,450.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 48.6% higher at Western Texas College than at College of the Mainland (about $2,010 more per year; $6,150.00 vs. $4,140.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Mainland than at Western Texas College (81% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Western Texas College students is 42.5% larger than aid received by College of the Mainland students ($7,399 vs. $5,191).

COM vs. Western Texas College Admissions comparison

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

COM vs. Western Texas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for COM and Western Texas 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 Western Texas College earn a median of about $600 more per year than COM graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,200 vs. $35,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Mainland graduates have a $1,595 lower median loan debt than Western Texas College graduates ($7,224 vs. $8,819).
• Among borrowers, COM graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Western Texas College graduates ($74 vs. $91).
• More Western Texas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former COM students, three years after graduation. (42% 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.