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San Antonio, TX · McAllen, TX
| Palo Alto College | South Texas College | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $4,463/yr | $1,751/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $3,680/yr | $1,395/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $13,393 | No data reported |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $4,373/yr | $1,651/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $6,248/yr | $3,841/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $7,376/yr | $5,274/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $5,201/yr | No data reported |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $142/mo | No data reported |
| Room & board (off campus) | $14,250/yr | $8,638/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | No data reported |
| Books & supplies | $500/yr | $1,600/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $11,946/yr | $9,561/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $3,412/yr | $4,920/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $9,952/yr | $7,620/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 27% | 39% |
| Students taking federal loans | 2.3% | 0% |
| Getting in | ||
| SAT/ACT policy | Open admission (everyone qualified gets in) | Open admission (everyone qualified gets in) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 33% | 27% |
| Freshmen who come back | No data reported | 58% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $37,448/yr | $36,788/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $21,915–$54,989 | $19,244–$57,873 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 21% | 32% |
| White students graduating | 33% | 29% |
| Black students graduating | 33% | 17% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 33% | 27% |
| Asian students graduating | 33% | 44% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $33,233/yr | $28,239/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 54% | 54% |
| Graduate on time | No data reported | 15% |
| Pell students who graduate | 33% | 27% |
| First-gen students who finish | 20% | 27% |
| Low-income students who finish | 18% | 26% |
| Students who transfer out | 12% | 15% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $35,918/yr | $31,909/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Liberal Arts & General Studies 58% · Business, Management & Marketing 17% · Culinary & Personal Services 6% | Liberal Arts & General Studies 27% · Health Professions 13% · Business, Management & Marketing 11% |
| Most popular program | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 58% of degrees | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 27% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 17% of degrees | Health Professions — 13% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Culinary & Personal Services — 6% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 11% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Computer & Information Sciences — 5% of degrees | Precision Production — 9% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Agriculture & Veterinary Science — 5% of degrees | Computer & Information Sciences — 7% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods — $29,062/yr | Computer and Information Sciences, General — $40,288/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 7.9% | 13% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 8,801 | 15,856 |
| Students per professor | 31 : 1 | 22 : 1 |
| Average professor pay | $7,853/mo | $7,665/mo |
| Full-time professors | 50% | 56% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $22,304 | $17,577 |
| Setting | City (large) | City (midsize) |
| Location | San Antonio, TX | McAllen, TX |
| Region | Southwest | Southwest |
| Founded | 1983 | 1993 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Associate degrees | Associate degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Nontraditional | Baccalaureate/Associate's Colleges: Associate's Dominant |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Men | 37% | 42% |
| Women | 63% | 58% |
| White students | 12% | 2.2% |
| Black students | 5.9% | 0.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 77% | 95% |
| Asian students | 1.5% | 0.5% |
| Two or more races | 2.7% | 0.2% |
| Other / not reported | 0.9% | 1.4% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 64% | 61% |
| Part-time students | 79% | 55% |
| Students age 25+ | 22% | 17% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $6,156/yr | $5,695/yr |
| Endowment | No data reported | $339,639 |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | No — no campus housing | No — no campus housing |
| Meal plan offered | No | No |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | No | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | Yes | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | No | No |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| College sports level | No intercollegiate athletics reported | No intercollegiate athletics reported |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.