Palo Alto College

alamo.edu/pac/

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2021 Undergraduate Tuition

$2,970

2021 Average Net Price

$4,951

After Financial Aid

2019 Student Loan

3.96%

Default Rate

2021 Enrolled Students

10,559

17.4% Full-Time

2021 Graduation Rate

33%

235 Graduates

About

Palo Alto College is a higher education institution located in Bexar County, TX. In 2021, the most popular Associates Degree concentrations at Palo Alto College were General Studies (1,159 degrees awarded), Early Childhood Education & Teaching (91 degrees), and Liberal Arts & Sciences (33 degrees).

In 2021, 1,745 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Palo Alto College. 66.1% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 33.9% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was hispanic or latino (1,443 degrees), 6.77 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, white (213 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Palo Alto College is $2,970, which is $−4,998 less than the national average for Associates Colleges ($7,968).

Associates Colleges: High Transfer-High Nontraditional Associates Colleges

Costs

In 2021, the median undergraduate tuition at Palo Alto College is $2,970, which is $−4,998 less than the national average for Associates Colleges ($7,968).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $4,951.

In 2021, 34% of undergraduate students attending Palo Alto College received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 2% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$2,970

2021 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2021, the cost of tuition at Palo Alto College was $2,970. The cost of tuition at Palo Alto College is $−4,998 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Associates Colleges ($7,968).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Palo Alto College (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$4,951

2021 Value

14.8%

1 Year Growth

In 2021 Palo Alto College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $4,951. Between 2020 and 2021, the average net price of Palo Alto College grew by 14.8%.

This chart compares the average net price of Palo Alto College (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$8,954

Room and Board

$1,000

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Palo Alto College was of $8,954 in 2021. The cost of room and board increased by 1.63% between 2020 and 2021.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,000. The cost of books and supplies decreased by 40.3% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Palo Alto College (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

34%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

34% of undergraduate students at Palo Alto College received financial aid through grants or loans in 2021. This represents a decline of 8.11% with respect to 2020, when 37% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Palo Alto College (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

3.96%

2019 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2019 the default rate for borrower's at Palo Alto College was 3.96%, which represents 12 out of the 303 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Enrollment

Palo Alto College had a total enrollment of 10,559 students in 2021. The full-time enrollment at Palo Alto College is 1,837 students and the part-time enrollment is 8,722. This means that 17.4% of students enrolled at Palo Alto College are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Palo Alto College, both undergraduate and graduate, is 77% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% White, 5% Black or African American, 2.14% Two or More Races, 1.14% Asian, 0.18% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0947% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Palo Alto College in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly Hispanic or Latino Female (56.2%), followed by Hispanic or Latino Male (31.4%) and White Female (5.39%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

17.4%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Palo Alto College in 2021, both undergraduate and graduate, is 10,559 students. The full-time enrollment at Palo Alto College is 1,837 and the part-time enrollment is 8,722. This means that 17.4% of students enrolled at Palo Alto College are enrolled full-time compared with 32.5% at similar Associates Colleges.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Palo Alto College (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

60%

2021 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Palo Alto College was 60%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Associates Colleges (60%), Palo Alto College had a retention rate approximately the same as its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Palo Alto College (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2021)

Hispanic or Latino
8,127 enrolled students
White
1,472 enrolled students
Black or African American
528 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Palo Alto College is 77% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% White, 5% Black or African American, 2.14% Two or More Races, 1.14% Asian, 0.18% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0947% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Associates Colleges is 44.1% White, 26.8% Hispanic or Latino, and 12.5% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 53 students (0.502%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2021, 561 more women than men received degrees from Palo Alto College. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Palo Alto College is hispanic or latino (1,443 degrees awarded). There were 6.77 times more hispanic or latino recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white (213 degrees).

The most common Associates Degree concentration at Palo Alto College is General Studies (1,159 degrees awarded), followed by Early Childhood Education & Teaching (91 degrees) and Liberal Arts & Sciences (33 degrees).

In 2021, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Palo Alto College, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Liberal Arts & Humanities (1,194 degrees awarded), Agriculture (28 degrees), and Personal & Culinary Services (56 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Elementary & middle school teachers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Palo Alto College are Elementary & middle school teachers (1,793,677 people), Accountants & auditors (1,051,811 people), Other managers (730,940 people), Financial managers (482,774 people), and Secondary school teachers (465,304 people).

The most specialized majors at Palo Alto College in 2021 are Liberal Arts & Humanities (1,194 degrees awarded), Agriculture (28 degrees), Personal & Culinary Services (56 degrees), EDUCATION. (98 degrees), and Business (255 degrees) (as of 2021).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Palo Alto College are Surgeons, Chief executives & legislators, Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys, Nurse anesthetists, and Physicians

The most specialized majors at Palo Alto College are Liberal Arts & Humanities (1,194 degrees awarded), Agriculture (28 degrees), Personal & Culinary Services (56 degrees), EDUCATION. (98 degrees), and Business (255 degrees) (as of 2021).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Palo Alto College are Elementary & secondary schools (3,128,571 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (533,653 people), Banking & related activities (501,904 people), Computer Systems Design (489,972 people), and Insurance carriers (422,997 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Palo Alto College.

Most Common (2021)

General Studies
1,159 degree-majors awarded
Early Childhood Education & Teaching
91 degree-majors awarded
Liberal Arts & Sciences
33 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common associates degree concentration at Palo Alto College was General Studies with 1,159 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from associates degree programs at Palo Alto College according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

592

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2021

1,153

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2021

In 2021, 592 degrees were awarded to men at Palo Alto College, which is 0.513 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (1,153).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Palo Alto College by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2021, 363 degrees were awarded to men at Palo Alto College in General Studies, which is 0.456 times less than the 796 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2021, 796 degrees were awarded to men at Palo Alto College in General Studies, which is 2.19 times more than the 363 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

11%

100% Completion Time

29%

150% Completion Time

In 2021, 11% of students graduating from Palo Alto College completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 29% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 36% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Associates Colleges Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Two or More Races Male

Highest Graduation Rate (50%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2021 at Palo Alto College is Male and Two or More Races (50% graduation rate). Across all Associates Colleges, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.9%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2021)

Hispanic or Latino
1,443 degrees awarded
White
213 degrees awarded
Black or African American
61 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Palo Alto College is hispanic or latino (1,443 degrees awarded). There were 6.77 times more hispanic or latino recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white (213 degrees).

0.0573% of degree recipients (1 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2021)

Hispanic or Latino Female
968 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Male
475 degrees awarded
White Female
139 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Palo Alto College is hispanic or latino female (968 degrees awarded). There were 2.04 times more hispanic or latino female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino male (475 degrees).

Operations

Palo Alto College employs 42 Instructors, 28 Assistant professors and 25 Professors. Most academics at Palo Alto College are Female Instructor (25), Male Instructor (17), and Male Assistant professor (17).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Palo Alto College are: Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services, with 97 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 31 employees, and Business and Financial Operations with 21 employees.

Salary Expenditure

$24.4M

2021 Salaries

3.1%

decline from 2020

In 2021, Palo Alto College paid a median of $24.4M in salaries, a 3.1% decline from the previous year.

The median for similar Associates Colleges is 16.4M (41.6% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$7.43M

Instructional Salaries

109

Number of Employees

In 2021, Palo Alto College paid a total of $7.43M to 109 employees working as instructors, which represents 30.5% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $5.1M (31.2%) for similar Associates Colleges.

Occupations by Share

Instructor

Most Common Instructor

42 Employees

Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

97 Employees

In 2021, the most common positions for instructional staff at Palo Alto College were Instructor with 42 employees, Assistant professor with 28 employees, and Professor with 25 employees.

In 2021, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Palo Alto College were Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 97 employees, Office and Administrative Support with 31 employees, and Business and Financial Operations with 21 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2021)

Female Instructor
Male Instructor
Male Assistant professor

In 2021, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Palo Alto College was Female Instructor with 25 employees, Male Instructor with 17 employees, and Male Assistant professor with 17 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Palo Alto College.