Odessa College vs. Palo Alto College

Comparable Facts

Compare Odessa College in Odessa, 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 Odessa College based on total student enrollment (12,395 students vs. 9,981 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Odessa College is located in Odessa, TX (Small City setting); Palo Alto College is in San Antonio, TX (Large City setting).
• Odessa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palo Alto College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Odessa College 24:1; Palo Alto College 31:1.

Odessa College vs. Palo Alto College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Odessa College 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 Odessa College ($4,805 vs. $7,371).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Odessa College are 51.4% lower than at Palo Alto College ($6,930 vs. $14,250).
• Palo Alto College is 37.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Odessa College (about $1,510 more per year; $5,542.00 vs. $4,032.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 102% higher at Palo Alto College than at Odessa College (about $5,026 more per year; $9,952.00 vs. $4,926.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palo Alto College than at Odessa College (92% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Palo Alto College students is 6.4% larger than aid received by Odessa College students ($6,983 vs. $6,564).

Odessa College vs. Palo Alto College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Odessa College 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 Odessa College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Odessa College - Open admission; Palo Alto College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Odessa College Jun 1, 2027.

Odessa College vs. Palo Alto College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Odessa College 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 Odessa College earn a median of about $8,700 more per year than Palo Alto College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,500 vs. $31,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have a $1,149 lower median loan debt than Odessa College graduates ($5,500 vs. $6,649).
• Among borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Odessa College graduates ($56 vs. $68).
• More Odessa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palo Alto College students, three years after graduation. (49% 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.