Northwest Vista College

3535 N. Ellison Drive
San Antonio, TX 78251
Top-Ranked (2026): View Rankings
  • Northwest Vista College is a college of the Alamo Community College District along with its sister colleges that include Palo Alto College, St. Philip's College, San Antonio College and Northeast Lakeview College in serving Bexar County and the surrounding areas.

School Highlights

Northwest Vista College serves 20,060 students (21% of students are full-time).
Minority enrollment is 82% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the state average of 75%.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • Enrollment: 20,060 students
  • In-state tuition: $5,550
  • Out-state tuition: $10,740
  • Minority enrollment: 82%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Top Rankings

Northwest Vista College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Texas for:

Category
Attribute
Community Size

School Overview

The teacher population of 288 teachers has declined by 52% over five years.
Northwest Vista College
(TX) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associate's Colleges
Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Nontraditional
Institution Level
Four or more years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Colors
Blue and Gold
Total Faculty
288 staff
73 staff
School Calendar

Student Body

The student population of Northwest Vista College has grown by 8% over five years.
The Northwest Vista College diversity score of 0.52 is more than the state average of 0.00. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
20,060 students
1,385 students
Student-Teacher Ratio
70:1
34:1
# Full-Time Students
4,264 students
869 students
# Part-Time Students
15,796 students
3,352 students
# Enrollment Undergraduate
20,060 students
1,335 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
4,264 students
837 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
15,796 students
3,377 students
% Asian
4%
6%
% Hispanic
66%
47%
% Black
7%
13%
% White
18%
25%
% Two or more races
4%
2%
% Unknown races
1%
5%
Diversity Score
0.52
0.00
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
27%
54%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$36,200
$34,600

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

The public in-state tuition of $5,550 is more than the state average of $3,713. The in-state tuition has declined by 15% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $10,740 is more than the state average of $6,099. The out-state tuition has declined by 23% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$5,550
$3,713
Out-State Tuition Fees
$10,740
$6,099
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
88%
88%
Median Debt for Graduates
$8,523
$10,630
Median Debt for Dropouts
$5,341
$5,500
Source: 2025 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) , School Administrators

School Notes

  • School Mascot: Wildcats
  • Established in 1994, with a donation of approximately 137 acres from World Savings and Loan Association, Northwest Vista College began holding classes in off-campus locations in the fall of 1995 with an enrollment of 12 students. The college began construction of its campus in July 1997 and the Mountain Laurel Hall opened to students in October 1998. The campus celebrated its grand opening in October 1999 with the completion of the Manzanillo Hall and the Huisache Hall. Located on 137 acres, Northwest Vista College is comprised of the following buildings: Manzanillo Hall,, Mountain Laurel Hall, Huisache Hall, Pecan Hall, Texas Persimmon Physical Plant and the Boardwalk. The Manzanillo Hall houses the state-of-the-art Learning Resource Center, the Student Success Center and the college's administration offices. The Huisache Hall is home to the bookstore, the college's Kinesiology and Multimedia Technology programs, the Office of Student Engagement, the student lounge, banquet facilities and refreshment vending facilities. The Mountain Laurel Hall is home to classrooms, laboratories, and faculty offices. The Pecan Hall is home to the Center for Workforce and Community Education, classrooms, dance studios, and computer labs. The Boardwalk includes 23,000 square feet of additional classroom space. The college offers programs in Academic Foundations, Communication Arts, Arts & Humanities, Business & Government, Natural & Physical Sciences, Social and Computer Sciences and Support Areas. Northwest Vista College offers Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Science degrees, Certificates, and Marketable Skills Achievement Awards.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Northwest Vista College cost?
Northwest Vista College's tuition is approximately $5,550 for In-State students and $10,740 for Out-State students.
What is Northwest Vista College's ranking?
Northwest Vista College ranks among the top 20% of community college in Texas for: Largest student body and Least debt for graduating students.
In what neighborhood is Northwest Vista College located?
Northwest Vista College is located in the Far West Side neighborhood of San Antonio, TX. There are 1 other community '.college.' located in Far West Side.

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • Enrollment: 20,060 students
  • In-state tuition: $5,550
  • Out-state tuition: $10,740
  • Minority enrollment: 82%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Related School Videos

Did You Know?

Bexar County, TX community colleges have a diversity score of 0.59, which is higher than the national average of 0.00. 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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