Howard College vs. Western Texas College

Comparable Facts

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

Howard College is larger than Western Texas College based on total student enrollment (4,101 students vs. 1,385 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Howard College is located in Big Spring, TX (Remote Town setting); Western Texas College is in Snyder, TX (Rural Fringe setting).
• Howard College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Western Texas College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard College 25:1; Western Texas College 17:1.

Howard College vs. Western Texas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard College 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 Western Texas College than Howard College ($6,153 vs. $6,491).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Texas College are 4.6% lower than at Howard College ($5,786 vs. $6,064).
• Howard College is 7.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Western Texas College (about $376 more per year; $5,266.00 vs. $4,890.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.2% higher at Howard College than at Western Texas College (about $566 more per year; $6,716.00 vs. $6,150.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Howard College than at Western Texas College (81% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Howard College students is 1.3% larger than aid received by Western Texas College students ($7,494 vs. $7,399).

Howard College vs. Western Texas College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Howard College 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 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; Western Texas College - Open admission.

Howard College vs. Western Texas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Howard College 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 Western Texas College earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than Howard College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,200 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Howard College graduates have a $2,069 lower median loan debt than Western Texas College graduates ($6,750 vs. $8,819).
• Among borrowers, Howard College graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Western Texas College graduates ($69 vs. $91).
• More Western Texas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Howard College students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 41%)

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.