Match #1
McLennan Community College
Waco, TX
Profile closeness82/100
Admit rate—
- 5,668 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Graduation rate 27%, close to 26%
- Average net price $5,887, close to $3,887
The colleges most similar to Palo Alto College are McLennan Community College, Northeast Lakeview College, and Trinity Valley Community College. Palo Alto College has an average net price of $3,887 a year; 3 of its 10 alternatives cost less, in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
Profile closeness (0–100) compares graduation rate, size, admit rate, net price, Carnegie class, and control with Palo Alto College. The order also uses CollegesRef matching tiers, so a later match can score higher. Admit-rate bars use a 0–100% scale.
Top 10 alternatives to Palo Alto College
Row-wise results ranked by similarity. No curated AI list exists for this school.
Match #2
Northeast Lakeview College
Universal City, TX
Profile closeness81/100
Admit rate—
- 6,471 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Graduation rate 28%, close to 26%
- Enrollment 6,471 students, close to 8,801
Match #3
Trinity Valley Community College
Athens, TX
Profile closeness81/100
Admit rate—
- 5,655 students
- Public
- Town: Distant
- Graduation rate 26%, close to 26%
- Average net price $4,015, close to $3,887
Match #4
Northwest Vista College
San Antonio, TX
Profile closeness81/100
Admit rate—
- 13,993 students
- Public
- City: Large
- Graduation rate 27%, close to 26%
- Average net price $3,833, close to $3,887
Match #5
Amarillo College
Amarillo, TX
Profile closeness79/100
Admit rate—
- 7,399 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Graduation rate 28%, close to 26%
- Enrollment 7,399 students, close to 8,801
Match #6
Tyler Junior College
Tyler, TX
Profile closeness75/100
Admit rate—
- 9,087 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Graduation rate 27%, close to 26%
- Enrollment 9,087 students, close to 8,801
Match #7
San Antonio College
San Antonio, TX
Profile closeness75/100
Admit rate—
- 16,416 students
- Public
- City: Large
- Graduation rate 22%, close to 26%
- Average net price $5,010, close to $3,887
Match #8
Southwest Texas Junior College
Uvalde, TX
Profile closeness74/100
Admit rate—
- 3,306 students
- Public
- Town: Remote
- Graduation rate 30%, close to 26%
- Average net price $3,130, close to $3,887
Match #9
Texas Southmost College
Brownsville, TX
Profile closeness73/100
Admit rate—
- 3,372 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Graduation rate 31%, close to 26%
- Average net price $2,957, close to $3,887
Match #10
St Philip's College
San Antonio, TX
Profile closeness72/100
Admit rate—
- 12,914 students
- Public
- City: Large
- Graduation rate 32%, close to 26%
- Enrollment 12,914 students, close to 8,801
Questions about Palo Alto College alternatives
What colleges are similar to Palo Alto College?
The closest matches to Palo Alto College are McLennan Community College, Northeast Lakeview College, Trinity Valley Community College, Northwest Vista College, and Amarillo College. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
Which Palo Alto College alternatives cost less?
3 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than Palo Alto College ($3,887 a year), including Texas Southmost College ($2,957), Southwest Texas Junior College ($3,130), and Northwest Vista College ($3,833). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.
