Lone Star College System vs. Southwest Texas College

Comparable Facts

Compare Lone Star College System in The Woodlands, TX with Southwest Texas College in Uvalde, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lone Star College System is larger than Southwest Texas College based on total student enrollment (73,077 students vs. 6,525 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lone Star College System is located in The Woodlands, TX (Small Suburban setting); Southwest Texas College is in Uvalde, TX (Rural Fringe setting).
• Lone Star College System is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwest Texas College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lone Star College System 22:1; Southwest Texas College 28:1.

Lone Star College System vs. Southwest Texas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lone Star College System or Southwest 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 Southwest Texas College than Lone Star College System ($6,429 vs. $11,686).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwest Texas College are 40.5% lower than at Lone Star College System ($6,400 vs. $10,756).
• Lone Star College System is 72.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southwest Texas College (about $3,144 more per year; $7,470.00 vs. $4,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 49.2% higher at Lone Star College System than at Southwest Texas College (about $3,096 more per year; $9,390.00 vs. $6,294.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwest Texas College than at Lone Star College System (84% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwest Texas College students is 13.7% larger than aid received by Lone Star College System students ($7,177 vs. $6,315).

Lone Star College System vs. Southwest Texas College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lone Star College System or Southwest 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 Southwest Texas 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; Southwest Texas College - Open admission.

Lone Star College System vs. Southwest Texas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lone Star College System and Southwest 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 Lone Star College System earn a median of about $5,300 more per year than Southwest Texas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,500 vs. $33,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwest Texas College graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than Lone Star College System graduates ($5,500 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Southwest Texas College graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lone Star College System graduates ($56 vs. $98).
• More Southwest Texas 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.