Northwest Vista College
Northwest Vista College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Northwest Vista College at a Glance
Northwest Vista College is a public community college in San Antonio, Texas. It is part of the Alamo Colleges District and is located in the Westover Hills neighborhood of San Antonio's Far West Side. Established in 1995 with a dozen students, Northwest Vista College has an enrollment of more than 18,000 students and offers associate degrees and technical certifications.
1995
31 years old
15,526
137 acres
Identity
Is Northwest Vista College Worth It?
Northwest Vista College delivers solid financial returns for its graduates. At $4,525/year, it's priced 78% below average, while graduates go on to earn $42,490 — near the national average.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.4 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 32% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 3 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Bottom line: Northwest Vista College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Northwest Vista College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in TX
Ranked #21 of 154 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Modesto Junior College | 100 | $2,818 | $42,368 |
| #2 | Santa Monica College | 100 | $2,779 | $42,193 |
| #3 | Indian River State College | 100 | $3,815 | $38,315 |
| #4 | St Petersburg College | 100 | $1,471 | $42,557 |
| #5 | Henry Ford College | 100 | $660 | $34,795 |
| #6 | Texas A & M International University | 100 | $3,637 | $48,386 |
| #21 | Northwest Vista College | 75 | $4,525 | $42,490 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Northwest Vista College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 19 in TX.
Best Programs at Northwest Vista College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Northwest Vista College. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $4,525/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in TX
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- San Antonio, TX
- Student Body
- 13,993 students
- Graduation Rate
- 32%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $4,525
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $42,490
- Median Student Debt
- $9,400