Palo Alto College
Palo Alto College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Palo Alto College at a Glance
Palo Alto College is a public community college in San Antonio, Texas. It is one of five separately accredited colleges in the Alamo Colleges District.
1983
43 years old
9,368
Identity
Is Palo Alto College Worth It?
Palo Alto College delivers solid financial returns for its graduates. At $4,463/year, it's priced 78% below average, while graduates go on to earn $37,448 — near the national average.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.5 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 33% 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.
How Palo Alto College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in TX
Ranked #20 of 127 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 | Indian River State College | 100 | $3,815 | $38,315 |
| #2 | Henry Ford College | 100 | $660 | $34,795 |
| #3 | Taft College | 96 | $2,823 | $38,861 |
| #4 | Pensacola State College | 91 | $3,957 | $36,739 |
| #5 | Gulf Coast State College | 90 | $4,709 | $38,359 |
| #6 | Shasta College | 89 | $2,878 | $39,269 |
| #20 | Palo Alto College | 69 | $4,463 | $37,448 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Palo Alto College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 12 in TX.
Best Programs at Palo Alto College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Palo Alto 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 $4,463/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
- 8,801 students
- Graduation Rate
- 33%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $4,463
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $37,448
- Median Student Debt
- $13,393