Palo Alto College vs. Collin County Community College District

Comparable Facts

Compare Palo Alto College in San Antonio, TX with Collin County Community College District in McKinney, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Collin County Community College District is larger than Palo Alto College based on total student enrollment (39,548 students vs. 12,395 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Palo Alto College is located in San Antonio, TX (Large City setting); Collin County Community College District is in McKinney, TX (Midsize City setting).
• Palo Alto College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Collin County Community College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Palo Alto College 31:1; Collin County Community College District 21:1.

Palo Alto College vs. Collin County Community College District Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palo Alto College or Collin County Community College District? 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 Collin County Community College District ($4,805 vs. $6,970).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Collin County Community College District are 34.2% lower than at Palo Alto College ($9,379 vs. $14,250).
• Palo Alto College is 45.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Collin County Community College District (about $1,728 more per year; $5,542.00 vs. $3,814.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 64.1% higher at Palo Alto College than at Collin County Community College District (about $3,888 more per year; $9,952.00 vs. $6,064.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palo Alto College than at Collin County Community College District (92% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Palo Alto College students is 7.2% larger than aid received by Collin County Community College District students ($6,983 vs. $6,512).

Palo Alto College vs. Collin County Community College District Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Palo Alto College or Collin County Community College District? 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 Collin County Community College District and Palo Alto College.

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

Palo Alto College vs. Collin County Community College District Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palo Alto College and Collin County Community College District? 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 Collin County Community College District earn a median of about $8,200 more per year than Palo Alto College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,000 vs. $31,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have a $6,338 lower median loan debt than Collin County Community College District graduates ($5,500 vs. $11,838).
• Among borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have an estimated $66 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Collin County Community College District graduates ($56 vs. $122).
• More Palo Alto College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Collin County Community College District students, three years after graduation. (38% vs. 34%)

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.