Wharton County Junior College vs. Palo Alto College

Comparable Facts

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

Palo Alto College is larger than Wharton County Junior College based on total student enrollment (12,395 students vs. 5,504 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Wharton County Junior College is located in Wharton, TX (Distant Town setting); Palo Alto College is in San Antonio, TX (Large City setting).
• Wharton County Junior College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palo Alto College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Wharton County Junior College 16:1; Palo Alto College 31:1.

Wharton County Junior College vs. Palo Alto College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wharton County Junior 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 Wharton County Junior College than Palo Alto College ($3,754 vs. $4,805).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wharton County Junior College are 57.9% lower than at Palo Alto College ($6,000 vs. $14,250).
• Palo Alto College is 19% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wharton County Junior College (about $886 more per year; $5,542.00 vs. $4,656.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 68.6% higher at Palo Alto College than at Wharton County Junior College (about $4,048 more per year; $9,952.00 vs. $5,904.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palo Alto College than at Wharton County Junior College (92% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wharton County Junior College students is 11.4% larger than aid received by Palo Alto College students ($7,776 vs. $6,983).

Wharton County Junior College vs. Palo Alto College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wharton County Junior 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 Wharton County Junior College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wharton County Junior College - Open admission; Palo Alto College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wharton County Junior College Aug 14, 2027.

Wharton County Junior College vs. Palo Alto College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wharton County Junior 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 Wharton County Junior College earn a median of about $9,400 more per year than Palo Alto College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,200 vs. $31,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have a $1,955 lower median loan debt than Wharton County Junior College graduates ($5,500 vs. $7,455).
• Among borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wharton County Junior College graduates ($56 vs. $77).
• More Wharton County Junior College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palo Alto College students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.