Palo Alto College vs. Northwest Vista College

Comparable Facts

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

Northwest Vista College is larger than Palo Alto College based on total student enrollment (20,060 students vs. 12,395 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Palo Alto College is located in San Antonio, TX (Large City setting); Northwest Vista College is in San Antonio, TX (Rural Fringe setting).
• Palo Alto College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northwest Vista College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Palo Alto College 31:1; Northwest Vista College 33:1.

Palo Alto College vs. Northwest Vista College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palo Alto College or Northwest Vista 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 Northwest Vista College ($4,805 vs. $5,813).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Palo Alto College and Northwest Vista College ($14,250).
• Palo Alto College and Northwest Vista College have the same published in-state tuition ($5,542.00 vs. $5,542.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is the same at Palo Alto College as at Northwest Vista College ($9,952.00 vs. $9,952.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palo Alto College than at Northwest Vista College (92% vs. 87%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Palo Alto College students is 22.7% larger than aid received by Northwest Vista College students ($6,983 vs. $5,689).

Palo Alto College vs. Northwest Vista College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Palo Alto College or Northwest Vista 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 Northwest Vista College 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; Northwest Vista College - Open admission.

Palo Alto College vs. Northwest Vista College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palo Alto College and Northwest Vista 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 Northwest Vista College earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than Palo Alto College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,800 vs. $31,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have a $2,480 lower median loan debt than Northwest Vista College graduates ($5,500 vs. $7,980).
• Among borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwest Vista College graduates ($56 vs. $82).
• More Palo Alto College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwest Vista College students, three years after graduation. (38% vs. 37%)

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.