NCTC vs. Palo Alto College

Comparable Facts

Compare North Central Texas College in Gainesville, TX with Palo Alto College in San Antonio, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Palo Alto College is larger than NCTC based on total student enrollment (12,395 students vs. 8,106 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• North Central Texas College is located in Gainesville, TX (Distant Town setting); Palo Alto College is in San Antonio, TX (Large City setting).
• North Central Texas College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palo Alto College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: North Central Texas College 19:1; Palo Alto College 31:1.

NCTC vs. Palo Alto College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NCTC 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 NCTC ($4,805 vs. $5,163).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Central Texas College are 57.2% lower than at Palo Alto College ($6,102 vs. $14,250).
• Palo Alto College is 8.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than NCTC (about $454 more per year; $5,542.00 vs. $5,088.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 73.4% higher at Palo Alto College than at North Central Texas College (about $4,213 more per year; $9,952.00 vs. $5,739.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palo Alto College than at North Central Texas College (92% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Palo Alto College students is 36.3% larger than aid received by North Central Texas College students ($6,983 vs. $5,123).

NCTC vs. Palo Alto College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NCTC 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 NCTC.

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

NCTC vs. Palo Alto College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NCTC 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 North Central Texas College earn a median of about $5,400 more per year than Palo Alto College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,200 vs. $31,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have a $1,250 lower median loan debt than NCTC graduates ($5,500 vs. $6,750).
• Among borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NCTC graduates ($56 vs. $69).
• More NCTC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palo Alto College students, three years after graduation. (40% vs. 38%)

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.