Howard College vs. Wharton County Junior College

Comparable Facts

Compare Howard College in Big Spring, TX with Wharton County Junior College in Wharton, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Wharton County Junior College is larger than Howard College based on total student enrollment (5,504 students vs. 4,101 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Howard College vs. Wharton County Junior College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard College or Wharton County Junior 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 Wharton County Junior College than Howard College ($3,754 vs. $6,491).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wharton County Junior College are 1.1% lower than at Howard College ($6,000 vs. $6,064).
• Howard College is 13.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wharton County Junior College (about $610 more per year; $5,266.00 vs. $4,656.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.8% higher at Howard College than at Wharton County Junior College (about $812 more per year; $6,716.00 vs. $5,904.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Howard College than at Wharton County Junior College (81% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wharton County Junior College students is 3.8% larger than aid received by Howard College students ($7,776 vs. $7,494).

Howard College vs. Wharton County Junior College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Howard College or Wharton County Junior 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 Wharton County Junior 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; Wharton County Junior College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wharton County Junior College Aug 14, 2027.

Howard College vs. Wharton County Junior College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Howard College and Wharton County Junior 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 Wharton County Junior College earn a median of about $7,200 more per year than Howard College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,200 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Howard College graduates have a $705 lower median loan debt than Wharton County Junior College graduates ($6,750 vs. $7,455).
• Among borrowers, Howard College graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wharton County Junior College graduates ($69 vs. $77).
• More Howard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wharton County Junior College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 39%)

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.