Palo Alto College

1400 W Villaret Blvd
San Antonio, TX 78224
Top Ranked (2024): View Rankings
  • As a public comprehensive community college, Palo Alto College provides exemplary, accessible education and training to a diverse and aspiring community. The College educates, nurtures, and inspires students through a dynamic and supportive learning environment, which promotes the intellectual, cultural, economic and social life of the community.

School Highlights

Palo Alto College serves 11,193 students (19% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 25:1 is higher than the state community college average of 17:1.
Minority enrollment is 86% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the state average of 70%.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • Enrollment: 11,193 students
  • In-state tuition: $5,550
  • Out-state tuition: $10,740
  • Student:teacher ratio: 25:1
  • Minority enrollment: 86%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Top Rankings

Palo Alto College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Texas for:

School Overview

The teacher population of 454 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Palo Alto College
(TX) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associates Colleges
Associates Colleges
Institution Level
Less than 2 yrs
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Total Faculty
454 staff
262 staff
This chart display total faculty of Palo Alto College and community college average number of faculty in TX by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Student Body

The student population of Palo Alto College has stayed relatively flat over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 25:1 has increased from 24:1 over five years.
The Palo Alto College diversity score of 0.31 is less than the state average of 0.68. The school's diversity has declined by 16% over five years.
Total Enrollment
11,193 students
4,669 students
This chart display the total enrollment of Palo Alto College and community college average number of enrollment of TX by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
25:1
17:1
This chart display the student staff ratio of Palo Alto College and community college average student staff ratio of TX by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Full-Time Students
2,139 students
1,310 students
This chart display the total number of Full-time students enrollment of Palo Alto College and average number of community college Full-time students enrollment of TX by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Part-Time Students
9,054 students
3,359 students
This chart display the total number of Part-time students enrollment of Palo Alto College and average number of community college Part-time students enrollment of TX by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
This chart display the Full-time students and Part-time students enrollment breakdown of Palo Alto College.
This chart display community college average Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of TX.
# Enrollment Undergraduate
552 students
344 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
2,139 students
1,289 students
This chart display the total number of Full-time undergraduate students enrollment of Palo Alto College and average number of community college Full-time undergraduate  students enrollment of TX by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
16 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
n/a
3,151 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
15 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
252 students
% Asian
n/a
5%
This chart display the percentage of Asian students in Palo Alto College and the percentage of Asian community college students in TX by year, with the latest 2019-20 school year data.
% Hispanic
82%
46%
This chart display the percentage of Hispanic students in Palo Alto College and the percentage of Hispanic community college students in TX by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Black
2%
12%
This chart display the percentage of Black students in Palo Alto College and the percentage of Black community college students in TX by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% White
14%
30%
This chart display the percentage of White students in Palo Alto College and the percentage of White community college students in TX by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Two or more races
1%
2%
This chart display the percentage of Two or more races students in Palo Alto College and the percentage of Two or more races community college students in TX by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Non Resident races
n/a
2%
% Unknown races
n/a
3%
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Palo Alto College.
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in TX.
Diversity Score
0.31
0.68
This chart display the diversity score of Palo Alto College and the community college average diversity score of TX by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
29%
26%
This chart display completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of Palo Alto College and community college average completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of TX by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
n/a
2.44%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$31,300
$34,600
This chart display average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Palo Alto College and community college average graduate earnings (10 Years) of TX by year, disaggregated by student subgroups with the latest 2012-13 school year data.

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

The public in-state tuition of $5,550 is more than the state average of $3,924. The in-state tuition has declined by 22% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $10,740 is more than the state average of $6,229. The out-state tuition has declined by 22% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$5,550
$3,924
This chart display tuition fees for an in-state student of Palo Alto College and the public community college average tuition fees for an in-state student of TX by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Out-State Tuition Fees
$10,740
$6,229
This chart display tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Palo Alto College and the public community college average tuition fees for an out-of-state student of TX by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
84%
83%
This chart display the percent of students who is receiving some financial aid in Palo Alto College and the percent of community college students who is receiving some financial aid in TX by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Median Debt for Graduates
$10,500
$10,765
This chart display median debt for students who have completed a certificate or degree in Palo Alto College and average median debt for community college students who have completed a certificate or degree in TX by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Median Debt for Dropouts
$5,500
$5,500
This chart display median debt for students who have not completed a certificate or degree in Palo Alto College and average median debt for community college students who have not completed a certificate or degree in TX by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Acceptance Rate
n/a
78%
Source: 2021 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

School Notes

  • The college was founded in 1985 with the mission of providing higher education in the Southside with the goal of transferring students as well as preparing them for the workforce. In the past 20 years, we have excelled in our transfer programs. We are the community college that has the highest transfer rate in the State of Texas for Hispanics. The average transfer rate for Hispanic students in Texas is 8.9% - at Palo Alto College it is 38% for Hispanics. Palo Alto College offers general, transfer, and technical education; basic skills development and comprehensive literacy programs; continuing education and community outreach; student success and support programs; instructional technologies and distance education; library information resources and institutional research, planning, development and evaluation. In the workforce areas, we have added new programs in Academic Computer Technology, Aviation Management, Criminal Justice, Environmental Studies, Electro-Mechanical Technology, Health Professions, Logistics, Nursing, Teacher Education, and Turfgrass Management. Palo Alto College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate degrees and by Committee on Animal Technician Activities and Training of the Amercian Veterinary Medical Association. Its programs are approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Federal Aviation Agency, and the American Society of Transportation and Logistics.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Palo Alto College cost?
Palo Alto College's tuition is approximately $5,550 for In-State students and $10,740 for Out-State students.
What schools are Palo Alto College often compared to?
Palo Alto Collegeis often viewed alongside schools like Northwest Vista College by visitors of our site.
What is Palo Alto College's ranking?
Palo Alto College ranks among the top 20% of community college in Texas for: Average community college minority breakdown and Largest student body.

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Quick Stats (2024)

  • Enrollment: 11,193 students
  • In-state tuition: $5,550
  • Out-state tuition: $10,740
  • Student:teacher ratio: 25:1
  • Minority enrollment: 86%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Related School Videos

Did You Know?

Bexar County, TX community colleges have a diversity score of 0.57, which is lower than the national average of 0.70. The most diverse community college in Bexar County, TX is Galen College of Nursing-San Antonio. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.

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