Palo Alto College vs. Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service

Comparable Facts

Compare Palo Alto College in San Antonio, TX with Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Palo Alto College is larger than Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service based on total student enrollment (12,395 students vs. 254 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Palo Alto College is located in San Antonio, TX (Large City setting); Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service is in Houston, TX (Large Suburban setting).
• Palo Alto College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service is a private, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Palo Alto College 31:1; Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service 29:1.

Palo Alto College vs. Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palo Alto College or Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service? 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 Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service ($4,805 vs. $43,388).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Palo Alto College are 66.3% lower than at Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service ($14,250 vs. $42,264).
• Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service is 176.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palo Alto College (about $9,771 more per year; $15,313.00 vs. $5,542.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 53.9% higher at Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service than at Palo Alto College (about $5,361 more per year; $15,313.00 vs. $9,952.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palo Alto College than at Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service (92% vs. 26%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Palo Alto College students is 361.8% larger than aid received by Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service students ($6,983 vs. $1,512).

Palo Alto College vs. Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Palo Alto College or Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service? 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 Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service and Palo Alto College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCommonwealth Institute of Funeral Service 996/1271.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Palo Alto College - Open admission; Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service - Open admission.

Palo Alto College vs. Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palo Alto College and Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service? 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 Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service earn a median of about $6,200 more per year than Palo Alto College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,000 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 Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service graduates ($5,500 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service graduates ($56 vs. $98).
• More Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palo Alto College students, three years after graduation. (44% 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.