Palo Alto College

alamo.edu/pac

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2023 Undergraduate Tuition

$3,270

10.1% growth from 2022

2023 Average Net Price

$4,848

After Financial Aid

2020 Default Rate

on Student Loans

2023 Enrolled Students

10,908

20.7% Full-Time

2023 Graduation Rate

34%

252 Graduates

About

Palo Alto College is a higher education institution located in Bexar County, TX. In 2023, the most popular Associates Degree concentrations at Palo Alto College were General Studies (1,092 degrees awarded), Early Childhood Education & Teaching (76 degrees), and General Cosmetology (47 degrees).

In 2023, 1,634 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Palo Alto College. 64.9% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 35.1% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was hispanic or latino (1,362 degrees), 7.48 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, white (182 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Palo Alto College is $3,270, which is $−4,983 less than the national average for Associates Colleges ($8,253).

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at Palo Alto College was 0%, corresponding to 0 out of the 293 total borrowers.

Associates Colleges: High Transfer-High Nontraditional Associates Colleges

Costs

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at Palo Alto College is $3,270, which is $4,983 less than the national average for Associates Colleges ($8,253).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $4,848.

In 2023, 35% of undergraduate students attending Palo Alto College received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 2% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$3,270

2023 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2023, the cost of tuition at Palo Alto College was $3,270. The cost of tuition at Palo Alto College is $−4,983 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Associates Colleges ($8,253).

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

Average Net Price

$4,848

2023 Value

7.09%

1 Year Growth

In 2023 Palo Alto College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $4,848. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price of Palo Alto College grew by 7.09%.

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

$9,434

Room and Board

$500

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Palo Alto College was of $9,434 in 2023. The cost of room and board increased by 4.87% between 2022 and 2023.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $500. The cost of books and supplies decreased by 50% 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

35%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

35% of undergraduate students at Palo Alto College received financial aid through grants or loans in 2023. This represents a growth of 16.7% with respect to 2022, when 30% 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.

2020 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at Palo Alto College was 0%, which represents 0 out of the 293 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 10,908 students in 2023. The full-time enrollment at Palo Alto College is 2,263 students and the part-time enrollment is 8,645. This means that 20.7% of students enrolled at Palo Alto College are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Palo Alto College, both undergraduate and graduate, is 77.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% White, 4.58% Black or African American, 2.16% Two or More Races, 1.23% Asian, 0.0917% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0825% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Palo Alto College in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly Hispanic or Latino Female (54.7%), followed by Hispanic or Latino Male (32.7%) and White Female (4.59%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

20.7%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Palo Alto College in 2023, both undergraduate and graduate, is 10,908 students. The full-time enrollment at Palo Alto College is 2,263 and the part-time enrollment is 8,645. This means that 20.7% of students enrolled at Palo Alto College are enrolled full-time compared with 32.3% 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

57%

2023 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 57%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Associates Colleges (64%), Palo Alto College had a retention rate lower than 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 (2023)

Hispanic or Latino
8,439 enrolled students
White
1,322 enrolled students
Black or African American
500 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Palo Alto College is 77.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% White, 4.58% Black or African American, 2.16% Two or More Races, 1.23% Asian, 0.0917% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0825% 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 41.7% White, 28.7% Hispanic or Latino, and 12.6% 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, 257 students (2.36%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2023, 488 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 (1,362 degrees awarded). There were 7.48 times more hispanic or latino recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white (182 degrees).

The most common Associates Degree concentration at Palo Alto College is General Studies (1,092 degrees awarded), followed by Early Childhood Education & Teaching (76 degrees) and General Cosmetology (47 degrees).

In 2023, 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 (1,099 degrees awarded), Agriculture (73 degrees), and Personal & Culinary Services (96 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 (1,499,416 people), Secondary school teachers (478,247 people), Education administrators (251,351 people), Special education teachers (202,499 people), and Preschool & kindergarten teachers (186,710 people).

The most specialized majors at Palo Alto College in 2023 are Liberal Arts & Humanities (1,099 degrees awarded), Agriculture (73 degrees), Personal & Culinary Services (96 degrees), Engineering Technologies (33 degrees), and Education (81 degrees) (as of 2023).

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, Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, Chief executives & legislators, Skincare specialists, and Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys

The most specialized majors at Palo Alto College are Liberal Arts & Humanities (1,099 degrees awarded), Agriculture (73 degrees), Personal & Culinary Services (96 degrees), Engineering Technologies (33 degrees), and Education (81 degrees) (as of 2023).

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 (2,754,014 people), Computer Systems Design (631,984 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (296,883 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (170,846 people), and Insurance carriers (119,642 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 (2023)

General Studies
1,092 degrees awarded
Early Childhood Education & Teaching
76 degrees awarded
General Cosmetology
47 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common associates degree concentration at Palo Alto College was General Studies with 1,092 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

573

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2023

1,061

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2023

In 2023, 573 degrees were awarded to men at Palo Alto College, which is 0.54 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (1,061).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2023, 404 degrees were awarded to men at Palo Alto College in General Studies, which is 0.587 times less than the 688 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2023, 688 degrees were awarded to men at Palo Alto College in General Studies, which is 1.7 times more than the 404 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

12%

100% Completion Time

26%

150% Completion Time

In 2023, 12% of students graduating from Palo Alto College completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 26% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 30% 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.

Asian Female

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2023 at Palo Alto College is Female and Asian (100% graduation rate). Across all Associates Colleges, Non-resident Alien Male students have the highest graduation rate (65.7%).

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 (2023)

Hispanic or Latino
1,362 degrees awarded
White
182 degrees awarded
Black or African American
62 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Palo Alto College is hispanic or latino (1,362 degrees awarded). There were 7.48 times more hispanic or latino recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white (182 degrees).

0.245% of degree recipients (4 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2023)

Hispanic or Latino Female
891 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Male
471 degrees awarded
White Female
116 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Palo Alto College is hispanic or latino female (891 degrees awarded). There were 1.89 times more hispanic or latino female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino male (471 degrees).

Operations

Palo Alto College employs 56 Instructors, 21 Professors and 21 Assistant professors. Most academics at Palo Alto College are Female Instructor (31), Male Instructor (25), and Male Assistant professor (15).

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 24 employees, and Business and Financial Operations with 22 employees.

Salary Expenditure

$27.5M

2023 Salaries

6.71%

growth from 2022

In 2023, Palo Alto College paid a median of $27.5M in salaries, a 6.71% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 5.54% growth between 2021 and 2022, and a 3.1% decline between 2020 and 2021.

The median for similar Associates Colleges is 16.8M (40.1% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$7.63M

Instructional Salaries

109

Number of Employees

In 2023, Palo Alto College paid a total of $7.63M to 109 employees working as instructors, which represents 27.8% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $731k (4.21%) for similar Associates Colleges.

Occupations by Share

Instructor

Most Common Instructor

56 Employees

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

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

97 Employees

In 2023, the most common positions for instructional staff at Palo Alto College were Instructor with 56 employees, Professor with 21 employees, and Assistant professor with 21 employees.

In 2023, 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 24 employees, and Business and Financial Operations with 22 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2023)

Female Instructor
Male Instructor
Male Assistant professor

In 2023, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Palo Alto College was Female Instructor with 31 employees, Male Instructor with 25 employees, and Male Assistant professor with 15 employees.

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

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