HCC vs. Southwest University at El Paso

Comparable Facts

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

Houston Community College is larger than Southwest University at El Paso based on total student enrollment (53,253 students vs. 2,130 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Houston Community College is located in Houston, TX (Large City setting); Southwest University at El Paso is in El Paso, TX (Large City setting).
• Houston Community College 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: Houston Community College 23:1; Southwest University at El Paso 20:1.

HCC vs. Southwest University at El Paso Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HCC 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 Houston Community College than Southwest University at El Paso ($5,734 vs. $16,906).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwest University at El Paso are 53.5% lower than at Houston Community College ($4,340 vs. $9,330).
• Southwest University at El Paso is 268.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC (about $11,656 more per year; $16,000.00 vs. $4,344.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 193% higher at Southwest University at El Paso than at Houston Community College (about $10,540 more per year; $16,000.00 vs. $5,460.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwest University at El Paso than at Houston Community College (96% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwest University at El Paso students is 4.6% larger than aid received by Houston Community College students ($7,081 vs. $6,768).

HCC vs. Southwest University at El Paso Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HCC 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 HCC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HCC - Open admission; Southwest University at El Paso - Open admission.

HCC vs. Southwest University at El Paso Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HCC 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, Houston Community College graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than Southwest University at El Paso graduates ($10,500 vs. $15,500).
• Among borrowers, HCC graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Southwest University at El Paso graduates ($108 vs. $160).
• More HCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwest University at El Paso students, three years after graduation. (25% 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.