Howard College vs. Palo Alto College

Comparable Facts

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

Palo Alto College is larger than Howard College based on total student enrollment (12,395 students vs. 4,101 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Howard College is located in Big Spring, TX (Remote Town setting); Palo Alto College is in San Antonio, TX (Large City setting).
• Howard College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palo Alto College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard College 25:1; Palo Alto College 31:1.

Howard College vs. Palo Alto College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard College or Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto College than Howard College ($4,805 vs. $6,491).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Howard College are 57.4% lower than at Palo Alto College ($6,064 vs. $14,250).
• Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto College than at Howard College (92% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Howard College students is 7.3% larger than aid received by Palo Alto College students ($7,494 vs. $6,983).

Howard College vs. Palo Alto College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Howard College or Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto 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; Palo Alto College - Open admission.

Howard College vs. Palo Alto College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Howard College and Palo Alto 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 Howard College earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than Palo Alto College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,000 vs. $31,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have a $1,250 lower median loan debt than Howard College graduates ($5,500 vs. $6,750).
• Among borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Howard College graduates ($56 vs. $69).
• More Howard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palo Alto College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 38%)

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.