Howard College vs. Northwest Vista College

Comparable Facts

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

Northwest Vista College is larger than Howard College based on total student enrollment (20,060 students vs. 4,101 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Howard College is located in Big Spring, TX (Remote Town setting); Northwest Vista College is in San Antonio, TX (Rural Fringe setting).
• Howard College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northwest Vista College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard College 25:1; Northwest Vista College 33:1.

Howard College vs. Northwest Vista College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard College 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 Northwest Vista College than Howard College ($5,813 vs. $6,491).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Howard College are 57.4% lower than at Northwest Vista College ($6,064 vs. $14,250).
• Northwest Vista College is 5.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Howard College (about $276 more per year; $5,542.00 vs. $5,266.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 48.2% higher at Northwest Vista College than at Howard College (about $3,236 more per year; $9,952.00 vs. $6,716.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwest Vista College than at Howard College (87% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Howard College students is 31.7% larger than aid received by Northwest Vista College students ($7,494 vs. $5,689).

Howard College vs. Northwest Vista College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Howard College 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 Howard College.

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

Howard College vs. Northwest Vista College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Howard College 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 Northwest Vista College earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than Howard College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,800 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Howard College graduates have a $1,230 lower median loan debt than Northwest Vista College graduates ($6,750 vs. $7,980).
• Among borrowers, Howard College graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwest Vista College graduates ($69 vs. $82).
• More Howard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwest Vista College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 37%)

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.