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Northwest Vista College

Public San Antonio, TX · Urban · Southwest · 80% data
A Value A Affordability C Earnings
Graduation Rate
32% F
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$42,490 C
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$4,525 A
74% less than the typical college
Enrollment
13,993
Earnings +4% vs avg
Graduation -44% vs avg
Net Price +-74% vs avg

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 58.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $58.0 over 20 years.

58.0× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $58.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,031,647.

What The Data Says

  1. A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Graduation of 32% — 44% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $58.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Northwest Vista College Matters

Northwest Vista College is a public community college in San Antonio, TX and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity 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
13,993
Setting
Urban
Designations
HSI
Primary Strengths
Humanities, Computer Science & IT, Education, Visual & Performing Arts

Why students choose Northwest Vista College

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings
Strength in Humanities
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C+
Top 38% overall
C
Earnings
$42,490 median
A
Value
9.4× net price
A
Affordability
$4,525/yr net
F
Graduation
32% graduate
D+
Diversity
0.49 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With nearly 14,000 students enrolled, Northwest Vista College in San Antonio, Texas, is a solid choice for individuals looking to pursue degrees in areas like Humanities, Computer Science & IT, Education, Visual & Performing Arts, and Health Professions. This school attracts students who value a community-oriented environment that supports diverse academic paths. The focus is on creating a practical and engaging learning experience, making it a good fit for those who appreciate hands-on learning and a collaborative atmosphere.

After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $42,490 within a decade. This figure reflects the potential for upward mobility, especially for graduates in fields like Health Professions and IT. While nearly a quarter of students receive Pell Grants, which helps with affordability, it's clear that many find a path to stable jobs and careers after completing their studies.

The financial aspect is significant; the net price after aid is approximately $4,525, while the median debt for students sits at $9,400. This makes it relatively accessible for many students, especially those who thrive in a supportive, community-driven environment. Overall, those who succeed here are often motivated individuals looking to advance their education without incurring overwhelming debt.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Northwest Vista College is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Northwest Vista College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in San Antonio, Texas, Northwest Vista College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 32%.

Full-Time Faculty
45%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$7,894
Student–Faculty Ratio
29:1
Diversity Index
0.49
First-Gen Students
46%

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 Northwest Vista College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Northwest Vista College is $9,952, 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 $4,525. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,178 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,400 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$3,412
Out-of-State
$9,952
Avg Net Price
$4,525
Median Debt
$9,400
Pell Grant Rate
23%
Federal Loan Rate
2%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$3,178
Family Income $30K–$48K
$4,204
Family Income $48K–$75K
$5,752
Family Income $110K+
$10,517

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is Northwest Vista College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Northwest Vista College report median earnings of $42,490, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$35,741
8 Years
$38,613
10 Years
$42,490
Debt-to-Earnings
0.22x
Earning > $25K
55%

Earnings Trajectory

$35,741 6yr $38,613 8yr $42,490 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (205)
16%
100% (205)
16%
100% (205)
16%
100% (205)
16%

How Northwest Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation32%Earnings 10yr$42KNet Price$5KMedian Debt$9KPell Grant Rate23%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$3K$0-30K$4K$30-48K$6K$48-75K$11K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is Northwest Vista College Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Northwest Vista College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $4,525/year ($18,100 total). Graduates earn $42,490 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,049,747 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,031,647 (58.0× your investment). The median debt is $9,400, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 32% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$18,100
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,049,747
Net Return
$1,031,647
ROI Multiple
58.0×
Cost Per Year
$4,525
Median Debt
$9,400
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
32%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Northwest Vista College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Northwest Vista College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.16, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), 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.

Economic Connectedness
1.16
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.02
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
2.6%
Support Ratio
0.92
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Top Programs

The fields Northwest Vista College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Northwest Vista College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in San Antonio, Texas, Northwest Vista College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 32%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Northwest Vista College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Northwest Vista College is $9,952, 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 $4,525. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,178 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,400 in federal student loans.

Is Northwest Vista College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Northwest Vista College report median earnings of $42,490, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

How Connected Is Northwest Vista College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Northwest Vista College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.16, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), 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 Northwest Vista College.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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