DMC vs. COM

Comparable Facts

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

Del Mar College is larger than COM based on total student enrollment (10,256 students vs. 5,127 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Del Mar College is located in Corpus Christi, TX (Large City setting); College of the Mainland is in Texas City, TX (Small Suburban setting).
• Del Mar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of the Mainland is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Del Mar College 12:1; College of the Mainland 18:1.

DMC vs. COM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DMC or COM? 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 DMC ($3,252 vs. $3,593).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Mainland are 26.7% lower than at Del Mar College ($6,236 vs. $8,505).
• Del Mar College is 43.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than COM (about $1,490 more per year; $4,940.00 vs. $3,450.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 46.1% higher at DMC than at College of the Mainland (about $1,910 more per year; $6,050.00 vs. $4,140.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Mainland than at Del Mar College (81% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Del Mar College students is 76% larger than aid received by College of the Mainland students ($9,137 vs. $5,191).

DMC vs. COM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DMC or COM? 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 COM and DMC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DMC - Open admission; COM - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: DMC Jun 1, 2027.

DMC vs. COM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DMC and COM? 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 Del Mar College earn a median of about $500 more per year than COM graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,100 vs. $35,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Del Mar College graduates have a $2,945 lower median loan debt than COM graduates ($4,279 vs. $7,224).
• Among borrowers, DMC graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than COM graduates ($44 vs. $74).
• More DMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former COM students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.