HCC vs. Western Texas College

Comparable Facts

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

Houston Community College is larger than Western Texas College based on total student enrollment (53,253 students vs. 1,385 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Houston Community College is located in Houston, TX (Large City setting); Western Texas College is in Snyder, TX (Rural Fringe setting).
• Houston Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Western Texas College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Houston Community College 23:1; Western Texas College 17:1.

HCC vs. Western Texas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HCC 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 Houston Community College than Western Texas College ($5,734 vs. $6,153).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Texas College are 38% lower than at Houston Community College ($5,786 vs. $9,330).
• Western Texas College is 12.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC (about $546 more per year; $4,890.00 vs. $4,344.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.6% higher at Western Texas College than at Houston Community College (about $690 more per year; $6,150.00 vs. $5,460.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Houston Community College than at Western Texas College (69% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Western Texas College students is 9.3% larger than aid received by Houston Community College students ($7,399 vs. $6,768).

HCC vs. Western Texas College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HCC 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 HCC.

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

HCC vs. Western Texas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HCC 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 Houston Community College earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than Western Texas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,200 vs. $36,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Texas College graduates have a $1,681 lower median loan debt than HCC graduates ($8,819 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Western Texas College graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HCC graduates ($91 vs. $108).
• More Western Texas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HCC students, three years after graduation. (42% 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.