Howard College

  • We are a progressive and public community college dedicated to providing students with dynamic centers of learning and promoting economic and community development while being resourceful and fiscally responsible.

School Highlights

Howard College serves 3,674 students (27% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 13:1 is lower than the state community college average of 17:1.
Minority enrollment is 60% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the state average of 70%.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • Enrollment: 3,674 students
  • In-state tuition: $3,512
  • Out-state tuition: $5,142
  • Student:teacher ratio: 13:1
  • Minority enrollment: 60%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

School Overview

The teacher population of 281 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Howard College
(TX) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associates Colleges
Associates Colleges
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Total Faculty
281 staff
262 staff
This chart display total faculty of Howard 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 Howard College has declined by 14% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 13:1 has decreased from 15:1 over five years.
The Howard College diversity score of 0.60 is less than the state average of 0.68. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
3,674 students
4,669 students
This chart display the total enrollment of Howard College and community college average number of enrollment of TX by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
13:1
17:1
This chart display the student staff ratio of Howard College and community college average student staff ratio of TX by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Full-Time Students
1,001 students
1,310 students
This chart display the total number of Full-time students enrollment of Howard 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
2,673 students
3,359 students
This chart display the total number of Part-time students enrollment of Howard 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 Howard College.
This chart display community college average Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of TX.
# Enrollment Undergraduate
210 students
344 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
1,001 students
1,289 students
This chart display the total number of Full-time undergraduate students enrollment of Howard 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
2,673 students
3,151 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
15 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
252 students
252 students
This chart display the dormitory capacity of Howard College and the community college average dormitory capacity of TX by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% American Indian/Alaskan
1%
n/a
% Asian
1%
5%
This chart display the percentage of Asian students in Howard College and the percentage of Asian community college students in TX by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Hispanic
48%
46%
This chart display the percentage of Hispanic students in Howard College and the percentage of Hispanic community college students in TX by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Black
5%
12%
This chart display the percentage of Black students in Howard College and the percentage of Black community college students in TX by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% White
40%
30%
This chart display the percentage of White students in Howard 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
4%
2%
This chart display the percentage of Two or more races students in Howard 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
1%
2%
% Unknown races
n/a
3%
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Howard College.
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in TX.
Diversity Score
0.60
0.68
This chart display the diversity score of Howard 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)
25%
26%
This chart display completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of Howard 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)
$33,400
$34,600
This chart display average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Howard 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 $3,512 is less than the state average of $3,924. The in-state tuition has declined by 11% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $5,142 is less than the state average of $6,229. The out-state tuition has declined by 5% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$3,512
$3,924
This chart display tuition fees for an in-state student of Howard 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
$5,142
$6,229
This chart display tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Howard 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
91%
83%
This chart display the percent of students who is receiving some financial aid in Howard 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
$9,274
$10,765
This chart display median debt for students who have completed a certificate or degree in Howard 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
$4,750
$5,500
This chart display median debt for students who have not completed a certificate or degree in Howard 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 Howard County Junior College District was created by a county-wide vote on November 17, 1945. Seven citizens of Howard County were elected on that same ballot to serve as a Board of Trustees. Howard College was first housed two miles west of downtown Big Spring in the hospital area of the former Air Force Bombardier School. The first session began on September 30, 1946. On September 12, 1951, the college was moved to a one hundred acre campus located in southeast Big Spring. On November 6, 1979, the Board of Trustees unanimously voted to establish the SouthWest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf as a part of the Howard County Junior College District. The first classes offered through this program began on August 25, 1980. Howard College/Big Spring physical facilities are located on a spacious campus. The 120-acre campus contains an administration-classroom complex, a two-story science building, a 14,000 square foot library building, a fitness center, a student union building, a music building, a practical arts building, an applied science center, a 28,000 square foot occupational building, residence halls for men and women, a 90,000 square foot coliseum complex, a baseball park, a softball park, and a football stadium with a seating capacity of ten thousand, utilized and maintained by the Big Spring Independent School District. Howard College is accredited by The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate degrees.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Howard College cost?
Howard College's tuition is approximately $3,512 for In-State students and $5,142 for Out-State students.
What schools are Howard College often compared to?
Howard Collegeis often viewed alongside schools like Western Texas College, South Plains College by visitors of our site.

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Quick Stats (2024)

  • Enrollment: 3,674 students
  • In-state tuition: $3,512
  • Out-state tuition: $5,142
  • Student:teacher ratio: 13:1
  • Minority enrollment: 60%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Related School Videos

Did You Know?

For Texas public community colleges, the average tuition is approximately $3,924 per year for in-state students and $6,229 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $14,052 per year. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.

The average community college acceptance rate in Texas is 78%. Read more about national community college acceptance rates.

Texas community colleges have a diversity score of 0.68, which is lower than the national average of 0.70. The most diverse community college in Texas is Southwest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.

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