Howard College vs. South Plains College

Comparable Facts

Compare Howard College in Big Spring, TX with South Plains College in Levelland, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

South Plains College is larger than Howard College based on total student enrollment (9,098 students vs. 4,101 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Howard College is located in Big Spring, TX (Remote Town setting); South Plains College is in Levelland, TX (Distant Town setting).
• Howard College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. South Plains College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard College 25:1; South Plains College 16:1.

Howard College vs. South Plains College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard College or South Plains 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 Howard College than South Plains College ($6,491 vs. $6,494).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at South Plains College are 9.6% lower than at Howard College ($5,481 vs. $6,064).
• Howard College is 10.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than South Plains College (about $495 more per year; $5,266.00 vs. $4,771.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 30.3% higher at Howard College than at South Plains College (about $1,561 more per year; $6,716.00 vs. $5,155.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Howard College than at South Plains College (81% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Howard College students is 5.3% larger than aid received by South Plains College students ($7,494 vs. $7,114).

Howard College vs. South Plains College Admissions comparison

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

Howard College vs. South Plains College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Howard College and South Plains 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 South Plains College earn a median of about $5,300 more per year than Howard College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,300 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Howard College graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than South Plains College graduates ($6,750 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Howard College graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than South Plains College graduates ($69 vs. $108).
• More Howard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former South Plains College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 40%)

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.