Palo Alto College vs. TSTC

Comparable Facts

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

Palo Alto College is larger than TSTC based on total student enrollment (12,395 students vs. 12,077 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Palo Alto College is located in San Antonio, TX (Large City setting); Texas State Technical College is in Waco, TX (Midsize City setting).
• Palo Alto College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Texas State Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Palo Alto College 31:1; Texas State Technical College 14:1.

Palo Alto College vs. TSTC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palo Alto College or TSTC? 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 TSTC ($4,805 vs. $10,421).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Texas State Technical College are 42.1% lower than at Palo Alto College ($8,244 vs. $14,250).
• Texas State Technical College is 30.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palo Alto College (about $1,670 more per year; $7,212.00 vs. $5,542.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.7% higher at TSTC than at Palo Alto College (about $1,860 more per year; $11,812.00 vs. $9,952.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palo Alto College than at Texas State Technical College (92% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Texas State Technical College students is 46.4% larger than aid received by Palo Alto College students ($10,224 vs. $6,983).

Palo Alto College vs. TSTC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Palo Alto College or TSTC? 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 TSTC 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; TSTC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: TSTC Aug 27, 2027.

Palo Alto College vs. TSTC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palo Alto College and TSTC? 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).

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than TSTC graduates ($5,500 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than TSTC graduates ($56 vs. $98).
• More Palo Alto College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former TSTC students, three years after graduation. (38% vs. 31%)

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.