Palo Alto College
- Graduation Rate
- 33% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $37,448 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $4,463 A
- 74% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 8,801
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 48.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $48.2 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $48.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $842,137.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 33% — 42% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $48.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Palo Alto College
Palo Alto College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
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
- 8,801
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Business & Marketing, Culinary & Personal Services, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Palo Alto 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 $4,463 a year after grants and scholarships — 74% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $37,448 ten years after enrolling — 8% below the typical college, against $13,393 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 0.82 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With around 8,800 students, Palo Alto College in San Antonio is an inviting choice for those looking to make a solid start in higher education. It particularly suits individuals interested in fields like Humanities, Business & Marketing, Culinary Arts, Education, or Computer Science. What stands out is the opportunity for a diverse student body to engage with practical programs that can lead to rewarding careers.
Looking at life after graduation, students here can expect to earn a median of $37,448 after ten years. This figure reflects a promising trajectory for graduates, especially considering the college's relatively low net price of $4,463. This affordability could be a relief for many, as it allows students to focus on their studies rather than stress about overwhelming financial burdens.
When it comes to the financial bottom line, the median debt for graduates is about $13,393, which is manageable for many. Given these numbers, students who thrive here often come from various backgrounds and are ready to invest in their education without facing crippling debt. The supportive environment and practical programs help foster success for those willing to engage and put in the effort.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in San Antonio, Texas, Palo Alto College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 33%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 50%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,853
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 28:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.39
- First-Gen Students
- 64%
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 Palo Alto College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Palo Alto 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 $4,463. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,680 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,393 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $3,412
- Out-of-State
- $9,952
- Avg Net Price
- $4,463
- Median Debt
- $13,393
- Pell Grant Rate
- 27%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 2%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $3,680
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $4,373
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,248
- Family Income $110K+
- $5,201
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 Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Palo Alto College report median earnings of $37,448, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $33,233
- 8 Years
- $35,918
- 10 Years
- $37,448
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.36x
- Earning > $25K
- 49%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (113)
- 16%
- 100% (113)
- 16%
- 100% (113)
- 16%
- 100% (113)
- 16%
How Palo 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 Palo Alto College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Palo Alto College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $4,463/year ($17,852 total). Graduates earn $37,448 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $859,989 in total earnings — a net gain of $842,137 (48.2× your investment). The median debt is $13,393, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 33% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $17,852
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $859,989
- Net Return
- $842,137
- ROI Multiple
- 48.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $4,463
- Median Debt
- $13,393
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 33%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields Palo Alto 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.
- Humanities 58%
- Business & Marketing 17% $32,002 early-career
- Culinary & Personal Services 6%
- Computer Science & IT 5%
- Health Professions 3%
- Education 3% $14,081 early-career
- Precision Production 0%
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 Palo Alto 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
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Palo Alto College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in San Antonio, Texas, Palo Alto College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 33%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Palo Alto College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Palo Alto 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 $4,463. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,680 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,393 in federal student loans.
Is Palo Alto College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Palo Alto College report median earnings of $37,448, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Palo Alto College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Palo Alto College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.82, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), 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 Palo Alto College.
- Pensacola State CollegePensacola, FL · Close peer39% grad $36,739 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Antelope Valley Community College DistrictLancaster, CA · Close peer33% grad $36,526 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Ozarks Technical Community CollegeSpringfield, MO · Close peer32% grad $36,455 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- St Philip's CollegeSan Antonio, TX · Close peer28% grad $38,224 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Solano Community CollegeFairfield, CA · Close peer35% grad $44,170 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- Del Mar CollegeCorpus Christi, TX · Close peer12% grad $38,656 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · same state
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Palo Alto College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Palo Alto College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.82, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), 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