Lone Star College System vs. Palo Alto College

Comparable Facts

Compare Lone Star College System in The Woodlands, TX with Palo Alto College in San Antonio, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lone Star College System is larger than Palo Alto College based on total student enrollment (73,077 students vs. 12,395 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lone Star College System is located in The Woodlands, TX (Small Suburban setting); Palo Alto College is in San Antonio, TX (Large City setting).
• Lone Star College System is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palo Alto College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lone Star College System 22:1; Palo Alto College 31:1.

Lone Star College System vs. Palo Alto College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lone Star College System 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 Lone Star College System ($4,805 vs. $11,686).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lone Star College System are 24.5% lower than at Palo Alto College ($10,756 vs. $14,250).
• Lone Star College System is 34.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palo Alto College (about $1,928 more per year; $7,470.00 vs. $5,542.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6% higher at Palo Alto College than at Lone Star College System (about $562 more per year; $9,952.00 vs. $9,390.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palo Alto College than at Lone Star College System (92% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Palo Alto College students is 10.6% larger than aid received by Lone Star College System students ($6,983 vs. $6,315).

Lone Star College System vs. Palo Alto College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lone Star College System 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 Lone Star College System.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lone Star College System - Open admission; Palo Alto College - Open admission.

Lone Star College System vs. Palo Alto College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lone Star College System 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 Lone Star College System earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than Palo Alto College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,500 vs. $31,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than Lone Star College System graduates ($5,500 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lone Star College System graduates ($56 vs. $98).
• More Palo Alto College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lone Star College System students, three years after graduation. (38% vs. 29%)

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.