C
Average
Score: 51/100
Overall (traditional)
D
Outcome Rating
40/100 · earnings-weighted

Howard College

2-Year Public
📍 Big Spring, Texas 79720
ℹ️
Rating Context: ⚠️ Limited Data Available. Some metrics for this institution are incomplete or unavailable, which may affect the overall grade. Consider researching this school directly for the most current information.

Suggested Focus: For this type of institution, we recommend prioritizing the Outcomes Score (C) which measures graduation and job placement rates — the most relevant metrics for career programs.
Graduation Rate: 36%
Outcomes
C
48/100
Affordability
B+
77/100
Resources
C
47/100
Experience
B
65/100
Prestige
F
23/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

4,136
Total Enrollment
36%
Graduation Rate
60%
Retention Rate
25.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
N/A
Acceptance Rate
$8,998
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Howard College ▼

42% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

Avg Home Value
$146,762
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,233
1-Year Change
+8.6%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Howard College, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$38,382
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$32,428
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$9,500
Median debt at graduation
35.1%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
23.7%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 25% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 37th percentile among associate-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (TX wage index 0.97). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Howard College

Median pay of associate's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$74,542$88,935+10%#203 of 962#231$12,062
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions$57,122$75,720+16%#108 of 560#88—
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions$54,428$70,345+13%#77 of 237#65—
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$36,240$50,103+14%#91 of 947#102$7,700
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs$18,922$49,287-5%#17 of 28#16$9,690
Business/Commerce—$45,139-10%#142 of 205#155$7,000
Criminal Justice and Corrections$33,724$45,025-4%#262 of 426#231—

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Howard College Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $146,762
  • Avg rent near campus: $1,233/mo — vs ~$183/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 79720 (6.6% cap, Big Spring)

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🏆 Where Howard College Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#17
Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies
of 17 schools
#26
Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching
of 29 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $4,320 $5,770
Room $1,650
Board $4,188
Total Cost (On-Campus) $16,781 $18,231

Financial Aid

88%
Receive Any Aid
49%
Receive Pell Grants
5%
Take Out Loans
$8,998
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$6,683
$30,001 - $48,000$7,400
$48,001 - $75,000$9,713
$75,001 - $110,000$10,341
$110,001+$12,936

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 89 grads/yr Business/Commerce, General 74 grads/yr General Studies 67 grads/yr Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training 56 grads/yr Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General 51 grads/yr Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching 47 grads/yr Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies 31 grads/yr Secondary Education and Teaching 21 grads/yr Criminal Justice/Safety Studies 20 grads/yr Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) 19 grads/yr Computer and Information Sciences, General 16 grads/yr Psychology, General 15 grads/yr Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician 15 grads/yr Construction Engineering Technology/Technician 12 grads/yr Biology/Biological Sciences, General 11 grads/yr Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer 11 grads/yr Dental Hygiene/Hygienist 11 grads/yr Surgical Technology/Technologist 10 grads/yr Social Work 10 grads/yr Medical/Clinical Assistant 8 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from Howard College's top programs commonly pursue.

Registered nurses
$94k/yr 3,391,000 jobs
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
$80k/yr 91,600 jobs
Chief executives
$206k/yr 309,400 jobs
Sales managers
$138k/yr 619,500 jobs
Managers, all other
$137k/yr 1,333,700 jobs
Industrial production managers
$121k/yr 241,900 jobs
Administrative services managers
$108k/yr 271,200 jobs
Construction managers
$107k/yr 550,300 jobs

Student Demographics

4,136
Total Students
59%
Women
39%
Traditional Age (18-24)
42%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 43%
Hispanic 49%
Black 3%
Asian 1%
Two or More 2%
Non-Resident 1%

🏠 Living Arrangements

On Campus 27%
Off-Campus (Renters) 42%
With Family 31%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~1,745 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 52%
Hybrid (Some Online) 19%
Fully Online 28%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 39%
25-64 (Adult) 15%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Howard College?
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution. Many schools with open enrollment or specialized programs do not report traditional acceptance rates.
How much does it cost to attend Howard College?
Tuition at Howard College is $4,320 for in-state students and $5,770 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $8,998.
What is the graduation rate at Howard College?
The graduation rate at Howard College is 36%. This graduation rate is low, which may reflect the institution's student population, program types, or other factors worth investigating.
Is Howard College a good school?
Howard College has a Repit College Score of 51/100 (Grade: C). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (C): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (B+): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (B): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (F): Reputation and recognition
Note: As a smaller institution, we recommend focusing on the Outcomes score when evaluating this school.
How many students attend Howard College?
Howard College has a total enrollment of 4,136 students.
Is there rental demand near Howard College?
Yes! Approximately 42% of students at Howard College live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 1,745 students who need rental housing near campus. This represents significant rental demand, which affects housing availability and pricing in the Big Spring area.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Howard College — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

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Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology