Tarrant County College vs. Palo Alto College

Comparable Facts

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

Tarrant County College District is larger than Palo Alto College based on total student enrollment (43,928 students vs. 12,395 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Tarrant County College District is located in Fort Worth, TX (Large City setting); Palo Alto College is in San Antonio, TX (Large City setting).
• Tarrant County College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palo Alto College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Tarrant County College District 18:1; Palo Alto College 31:1.

Tarrant County College vs. Palo Alto College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tarrant County College or Palo Alto 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 Tarrant County College District than Palo Alto College ($4,449 vs. $4,805).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Palo Alto College are 1.6% lower than at Tarrant County College District ($14,250 vs. $14,481).
• Palo Alto College is 56.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tarrant County College (about $2,005 more per year; $5,542.00 vs. $3,537.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.9% higher at Palo Alto College than at Tarrant County College District (about $1,582 more per year; $9,952.00 vs. $8,370.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palo Alto College than at Tarrant County College District (92% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Palo Alto College students is 2.2% larger than aid received by Tarrant County College District students ($6,983 vs. $6,830).

Tarrant County College vs. Palo Alto College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Tarrant County College or Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto College and Tarrant County College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Tarrant County College - Open admission; Palo Alto College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Tarrant County College Aug 16, 2027.

Tarrant County College vs. Palo Alto College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Tarrant County College and Palo Alto 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 Tarrant County College District earn a median of about $5,900 more per year than Palo Alto College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,700 vs. $31,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have a $3,320 lower median loan debt than Tarrant County College graduates ($5,500 vs. $8,820).
• Among borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tarrant County College graduates ($56 vs. $91).
• More Palo Alto College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tarrant County College students, three years after graduation. (38% vs. 29%)

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.