Do Students Succeed at Palo Alto College?
Discover how students at Palo Alto College progress — from enrollment through completion, transfer, and beyond.
Student Success at Palo Alto College at a Glance
Palo Alto College is a public institution offering four year or above programs located in San Antonio, TX. Current enrollment is 12,395 students.
- 33% overall graduation rate (IPEDS)
- 26.2% of all entering students earn their award within 8 years
- 78% of exiters from its largest program (Health Care Administrator A.A.S.) were employed within 6 months — verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
- DOL-verified median earnings of $8,489 per quarter after exiting Health Care Administrator A.A.S.
- 2,099 graduates across 53 programs in 2025
Program-Level Results · Verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
Verified Program Outcomes
Completion and employment results reported to the U.S. Department of Labor for Palo Alto College programs on the state Eligible Training Provider List. Missing values ("—") mean the state suppressed or did not report that metric — they never mean zero.
| Program | Completion rate | Employed 6 mo after exit | Employed 1 yr after exit | Median quarterly earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health Care Administrator A.A.S. | 36% | 78% | 80% | $8,489 |
| Business Management & Operations - Entrepreneurship Specialization A.A.S. | — | 55% | 54% | $4,145 |
| Logistics and Supply Chain Management AAS | 24% | 73% | 72% | $12,589 |
| Business Management & Operations - Management Specialization A.A.S. | 11% | 67% | 80% | $6,249 |
| Landscape and Horticulture Science A.A.S. | 34% | 74% | 80% | $10,672 |
| Computer Programmer AAS | 8% | 55% | 58% | $9,053 |
| Business Management & Operations - Marketing Specialization A.A.S. | — | 56% | 60% | $6,194 |
| Computer and Networking Support Specialist A.A.S. | 14% | 78% | 60% | $6,423 |
| Cyber Defense and Operations A.A.S. | 19% | 50% | 54% | $8,394 |
| Logistics Management Level 1 | 26% | 93% | 92% | $10,917 |
| Industrial Technology A.A.S. - Instrumentation Specialization | 50% | 71% | 83% | $11,386 |
| Business Management & Operations - Marketing Level 1 Certificate | — | 60% | 75% | $910 |
| Network Administrator A.A.S. | — | 89% | 88% | $11,805 |
| Turfgrass and Golf Course Management A.A.S. | 60% | 75% | — | $12,233 |
| Industrial Technology A.A.S. - Manufacturing Specialization | — | 38% | 63% | $1,931 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, WIOA participant outcomes (trainingproviderresults.gov), PY 2023.
College-Wide Statistics · IPEDS Federal Survey
What Are the Student Outcomes at Palo Alto College?
Unlike the program-level results above, the figures below cover all students at Palo Alto College, tracked over eight years by the federal IPEDS survey.
Overall Completion Rate
26.2%
Working Student Success
22%
Transfer Out Rate
33.1%
Still Enrolled Rate
1.1%
How Palo Alto College Compares
26% completion at Palo Alto College is mid-pack for the trade-school landscape. The 33% transfer-out rate adds important context — many trade students intentionally use their first credential as a stepping stone to a four-year school, so transfer often signals success rather than dropout.
What Happens After Students Enroll at Palo Alto College?
Eight-Year Student Outcomes
Eight-year outcomes for students who entered Palo Alto College. This shows what happened to students in their cohort by the end of the tracking period.
Understanding These Outcomes
Completed: Students who earned a certificate, diploma, or degree from this institution.
Still Enrolled: Students who remain enrolled at this institution after the tracking period.
Transferred Out: Students who transferred to another institution and may have completed there.
No Award: Students who left without earning a credential and are not enrolled elsewhere.
Combined completion and transfer rate of 42.3% indicates strong student success pathways.
These outcomes track what happened to students eight years after they first enrolled. Completion rates include certificates, diplomas, and degrees earned at this institution. Transfer rates show students who continued their education at other colleges. Understanding these pathways helps prospective students set realistic expectations and plan their educational journey.
What Are the Transfer and Continuation Patterns at Palo Alto College?
Success Rates by Student Entry Pathway
Comparing completion rates across different student entry pathways helps understand which groups succeed and how transfer experience impacts outcomes.
Key Insights
First-time and transfer students achieve similar completion rates, indicating equitable support regardless of entry pathway.
Combined 23.0% transfer-out rate suggests this institution may serve as a stepping stone for students continuing their education elsewhere.
Cohort Composition
Understanding Student Pathways
First-Time Students: Beginning postsecondary education for the first time at this institution.
Transfer-In Students: Previously attended another postsecondary institution before enrolling here.
Continuing Students: Returned to this institution after a break in enrollment.
Completion rates tracked over 8 years from initial entry.
Different student entry pathways lead to varying success rates. First-time students enter directly from high school or are starting college for the first time. Transfer students bring prior college experience and credits. Understanding these patterns helps you identify which pathway aligns best with your situation and predict your likelihood of success.
What Are the Completion Rates by Student Type at Palo Alto College?
What does this mean for you? These completion rates show how different types of students succeed at this institution. Full-time students have a higher completion rate (32.4%) compared to part-time students (22%). Consider your work and life commitments when deciding on your enrollment status. First-time students are those new to college, while transfer students have attended another institution before.
What Are the Cohort Outcomes Over Time at Palo Alto College?
Tracking outcomes for the 2015-16 cohort of 3,318 students
After 4 Years
After 6 Years
After 8 Years (Final)
Final Student Status
Completion Breakdown by Cohort
Full-time First-time Students
All First-time Students
Part-time First-time Students
Part-time First-time Transfer Students
All First-time Transfer Students
Full-time First-time Transfer Students
Full-time Non-first-time Transfer Students
All Full-time Students
Time to Completion
About This Data
Outcome measures data tracks student cohorts over 4, 6, and 8-year periods. Data is sourced from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and reflects the most recent available reporting year.