COM vs. Wharton County Junior College

Comparable Facts

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

Wharton County Junior College is larger than COM based on total student enrollment (5,504 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); Wharton County Junior College is in Wharton, TX (Distant Town setting).
• College of the Mainland is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Wharton County Junior College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Mainland 18:1; Wharton County Junior College 16:1.

COM vs. Wharton County Junior College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, COM or Wharton County Junior 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 Wharton County Junior College ($3,252 vs. $3,754).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wharton County Junior College are 3.8% lower than at College of the Mainland ($6,000 vs. $6,236).
• Wharton County Junior College is 35% more expensive for in-state tuition than COM (about $1,206 more per year; $4,656.00 vs. $3,450.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 42.6% higher at Wharton County Junior College than at College of the Mainland (about $1,764 more per year; $5,904.00 vs. $4,140.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Mainland than at Wharton County Junior College (81% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wharton County Junior College students is 49.8% larger than aid received by College of the Mainland students ($7,776 vs. $5,191).

COM vs. Wharton County Junior College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, COM or Wharton County Junior 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 Wharton County Junior 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; Wharton County Junior College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wharton County Junior College Aug 14, 2027.

COM vs. Wharton County Junior College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for COM and Wharton County Junior 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 Wharton County Junior College earn a median of about $5,600 more per year than COM graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,200 vs. $35,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Mainland graduates have a $231 lower median loan debt than Wharton County Junior College graduates ($7,224 vs. $7,455).
• Among borrowers, COM graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wharton County Junior College graduates ($74 vs. $77).
• More Wharton County Junior College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former COM students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.