Howard College
- Graduation Rate
- 35% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $38,382 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $6,147 A-
- 64% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,611
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 38.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $38.3 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $38.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $917,750.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 35% — 38% below the national average.
-
Every $1 invested returns $38.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Howard College Matters
Howard College is a public community college in Big Spring, TX and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 1,611
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Culinary & Personal Services, Education
Why students choose Howard College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $6,147 a year after grants and scholarships — 64% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $38,382 ten years after enrolling — 6% below the typical college, against $9,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.10 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
At Howard College, with just over 1,600 students, you’ll find a welcoming atmosphere that suits those seeking a hands-on education in practical fields. Many students dive into programs like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education, Humanities, and Culinary & Personal Services. This variety allows students to tailor their education to their interests and career goals, making the college experience both relevant and engaging.
When it comes to life after graduation, earnings matter. Graduates of Howard College can expect to earn around $38,382 after ten years in the workforce. This figure suggests that students can find decent job opportunities, particularly in the fields they studied. While the graduation rate sits at 35%, those who complete their programs tend to see a solid return on their investment, especially given the college’s affordable cost of attendance.
Speaking of cost, the net price after financial aid is about $6,147, which makes it accessible for many students. With a median debt load of $9,500, graduates are not leaving with overwhelming financial burdens. Students who thrive here often take advantage of the close-knit community and dedicated support, making it a good fit for those looking to balance education with real-world experience.
Rankings
- #33 Most Affordable Colleges in Texas
- #37 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Texas
- #39 Best Education Colleges in Texas
- #41 Best Online Nursing Programs in Texas
- #42 Best Online Business Programs in Texas
- #42 Best Online Education Programs in Texas
- #43 Best Online Computer Science Programs in Texas
- #47 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Texas
Can I Get In?
How selective Howard College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Howard College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Howard College, located in Big Spring, Texas, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 35%.
- Retention Rate
- 71%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,756
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 25:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.59
- First-Gen Students
- 51%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Howard College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Howard College is $6,716, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,147. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,301 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $2,766
- Out-of-State
- $6,716
- Avg Net Price
- $6,147
- Median Debt
- $9,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 24%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 9%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $4,301
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,056
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $7,068
- Family Income $110K+
- $12,329
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Howard College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Howard College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Howard College report median earnings of $38,382, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $32,428
- 8 Years
- $34,358
- 10 Years
- $38,382
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.25x
- Earning > $25K
- 52%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (58)
- 15%
- 100% (58)
- 15%
- 100% (58)
- 15%
- 100% (58)
- 15%
How Howard Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Howard College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Howard College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $6,147/year ($24,588 total). Graduates earn $38,382 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $942,338 in total earnings — a net gain of $917,750 (38.3× your investment). The median debt is $9,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 35% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $24,588
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $942,338
- Net Return
- $917,750
- ROI Multiple
- 38.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $6,147
- Median Debt
- $9,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 35%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $7,275,901
- Federal Grants
- $2,896,030
- Investment Income
- $104,505
Top Programs
The fields Howard College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 38% $76,041 early-career
- Business & Marketing 13%
- Culinary & Personal Services 9%
- Education 8%
- Humanities 7%
- Criminal Justice 5%
- Computer Science & IT 2%
- Biology & Biomedical 2%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Howard College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Howard College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Howard College, located in Big Spring, Texas, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 35%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Howard College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Howard College is $6,716, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,147. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,301 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,500 in federal student loans.
Is Howard College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Howard College report median earnings of $38,382, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Howard College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Howard College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.10, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Howard College.
- Butler County Community CollegeButler, PA · Close peer34% grad $38,891 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Southwestern Michigan CollegeDowagiac, MI · Close peer32% grad $37,303 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- South Piedmont Community CollegePolkton, NC · Close peer37% grad $37,308 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Blue Ridge Community and Technical CollegeMartinsburg, WV · Close peer37% grad $39,293 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- John Wood Community CollegeQuincy, IL · Close peer48% grad $38,631 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Jamestown Community CollegeJamestown, NY · Close peer37% grad $38,242 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Howard College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Howard College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.10, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note