Palo Alto College vs. SWCID |Howard College - SWCID

Comparable Facts

Compare Palo Alto College in San Antonio, TX with Southwest College for the Deaf in Big Spring, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Palo Alto College is larger than SWCID |Howard College - SWCID based on total student enrollment (12,395 students vs. 47 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Palo Alto College is located in San Antonio, TX (Large City setting); Southwest College for the Deaf is in Big Spring, TX (Remote Town setting).
• Palo Alto College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwest College for the Deaf is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Palo Alto College 31:1; Southwest College for the Deaf 7:1.

Palo Alto College vs. SWCID |Howard College - SWCID Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palo Alto College or SWCID |Howard College - SWCID? 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 Southwest College for the Deaf than Palo Alto College ($3,832 vs. $4,805).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwest College for the Deaf are 55.2% lower than at Palo Alto College ($6,383 vs. $14,250).
• Palo Alto College is 5.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than SWCID |Howard College - SWCID (about $276 more per year; $5,542.00 vs. $5,266.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 48.2% higher at SWCID |Howard College - SWCID than at Palo Alto College (about $4,794 more per year; $14,746.00 vs. $9,952.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwest College for the Deaf than at Palo Alto College (100% vs. 92%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwest College for the Deaf students is 57% larger than aid received by Palo Alto College students ($10,960 vs. $6,983).

Palo Alto College vs. SWCID |Howard College - SWCID Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Palo Alto College or SWCID |Howard College - SWCID? 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 SWCID |Howard College - SWCID 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; SWCID |Howard College - SWCID - Open admission.

Palo Alto College vs. SWCID |Howard College - SWCID Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palo Alto College and SWCID |Howard College - SWCID? 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 Southwest College for the Deaf earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than Palo Alto College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,000 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 SWCID |Howard College - SWCID graduates ($5,500 vs. $6,750).
• Among borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SWCID |Howard College - SWCID graduates ($56 vs. $69).
• More SWCID |Howard College - SWCID graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palo Alto College students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.