Howard College vs. Southwest Texas College

Comparable Facts

Compare Howard College in Big Spring, TX with Southwest Texas College in Uvalde, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southwest Texas College is larger than Howard College based on total student enrollment (6,525 students vs. 4,101 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Howard College is located in Big Spring, TX (Remote Town setting); Southwest Texas College is in Uvalde, TX (Rural Fringe setting).
• Howard College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwest Texas College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard College 25:1; Southwest Texas College 28:1.

Howard College vs. Southwest Texas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard College or Southwest Texas 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 Southwest Texas College than Howard College ($6,429 vs. $6,491).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Howard College are 5.2% lower than at Southwest Texas College ($6,064 vs. $6,400).
• Howard College is 21.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southwest Texas College (about $940 more per year; $5,266.00 vs. $4,326.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.7% higher at Howard College than at Southwest Texas College (about $422 more per year; $6,716.00 vs. $6,294.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwest Texas College than at Howard College (84% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Howard College students is 4.4% larger than aid received by Southwest Texas College students ($7,494 vs. $7,177).

Howard College vs. Southwest Texas College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Howard College or Southwest Texas 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 Southwest Texas College and Howard College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Howard College - Open admission; Southwest Texas College - Open admission.

Howard College vs. Southwest Texas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Howard College and Southwest Texas 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 Howard College earn a median of about $800 more per year than Southwest Texas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,000 vs. $33,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwest Texas College graduates have a $1,250 lower median loan debt than Howard College graduates ($5,500 vs. $6,750).
• Among borrowers, Southwest Texas College graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Howard College graduates ($56 vs. $69).
• More Howard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwest Texas 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.