HCC vs. Northwest Vista College

Comparable Facts

Compare Houston Community College in Houston, TX with Northwest Vista College in San Antonio, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Houston Community College is larger than Northwest Vista College based on total student enrollment (53,253 students vs. 20,060 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Houston Community College is located in Houston, TX (Large City setting); Northwest Vista College is in San Antonio, TX (Rural Fringe setting).
• Houston Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northwest Vista College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Houston Community College 23:1; Northwest Vista College 33:1.

HCC vs. Northwest Vista College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HCC or Northwest Vista 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 Houston Community College than Northwest Vista College ($5,734 vs. $5,813).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Houston Community College are 34.5% lower than at Northwest Vista College ($9,330 vs. $14,250).
• Northwest Vista College is 27.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC (about $1,198 more per year; $5,542.00 vs. $4,344.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 82.3% higher at Northwest Vista College than at Houston Community College (about $4,492 more per year; $9,952.00 vs. $5,460.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwest Vista College than at Houston Community College (87% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Houston Community College students is 19% larger than aid received by Northwest Vista College students ($6,768 vs. $5,689).

HCC vs. Northwest Vista College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HCC or Northwest Vista 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 Northwest Vista College and HCC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HCC - Open admission; Northwest Vista College - Open admission.

HCC vs. Northwest Vista College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HCC and Northwest Vista 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 Houston Community College earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than Northwest Vista College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,200 vs. $36,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Northwest Vista College graduates have a $2,520 lower median loan debt than HCC graduates ($7,980 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Northwest Vista College graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HCC graduates ($82 vs. $108).
• More Northwest Vista College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HCC students, three years after graduation. (37% vs. 25%)

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.