Public
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
San Antonio, Texas
Palo Alto College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
$10,911Annual Cost
$37,448Grad Salary
25.3%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$4,374
Need-Based Aid
25.3% receive Pell
Palo Alto College serves San Antonio's south side with comprehensive programs. Established in 1985, PAC features the Performing Arts Center.
The college excels in Mexican-American studies and cybersecurity programs. PAC's 'Guadalupe Scholars' program supports student success.
Palo Alto College Acceptance Rate
Palo Alto College maintains an inclusive admission policy. With an acceptance rate of 100%, the institution prioritizes accessibility and opportunity for all qualified students.
Admissions Guidelines
- Inclusive Enrollment: Emphasis is placed on meeting basic eligibility and high school completion.
- Launchpad Policy: Ideal for students looking to build a GPA for future transfer or career certification.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
If your GPA is slightly below the institutional average, you can remain competitive by scoring well on standardized tests and showcasing leadership in co-curricular activities.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Palo Alto College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Palo Alto College's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Palo Alto College Test Requirements
In this competitive environment, standardized scores are no longer elective; they serve as a critical standardized benchmark to validate high school GPA and course rigor. Applicants should aim for scores within or above the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class to remain viable in the Holistic Review process. At institutions that remain test-optional, submitting a high-percentile score is still the primary strategy for securing merit-based scholarships and distinguishing one's profile in a high-volume applicant pool.
Can I Get Into Palo Alto College Without SAT or ACT?
The admission test score (SAT/ACT) policy for Palo Alto College is unknown. But it is better to submit the test score if you have performed well in the test. It gives an extra opportunity to showcase your skills and competencies and hence will improve your chances of admission. Normally, students may appear in the test 4 to 5 times to improve their scores. But if your score is not up to the mark and is less than the national or state average, then it is better not to submit the score as it will impact negatively.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Palo Alto College
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Palo Alto College provides an open gateway to higher education. Success here is about utilizing resources and planning your long-term academic or career trajectory.
Use the "Golden Ticket" reserved-seat program if your high school is one of PAC's seven named ISD partners - it's a real, structural admission set-aside, not informal priority
PAC explicitly reserves up to SEVEN nursing seats per cohort (one per partner ISD: East Central, Edgewood, Harlandale, Somerset, South San, Southside, and Southwest ISDs), each Golden Ticket recipient determined directly by their own school district. A high school student in one of these seven specific districts pursuing nursing should ask their school counselor directly about Golden Ticket nomination, since this is a separate, district-administered selection process running parallel to PAC's general competitive ranking - not something a student applies for independently through PAC's standard nursing application.
Understand the precise cohort math: 30 total seats split into 23 competitively-ranked plus up to 7 reserved Golden Ticket seats, with unclaimed Golden Tickets reverting to the general ranked list
PAC structures each nursing cohort as 23 seats filled by the standard Application Ranking Point System PLUS up to 7 additional Golden Ticket seats - but if a Golden Ticket recipient fails to meet minimum entrance criteria by the application deadline, that seat reverts to the NEXT general applicant on the competitive ranking list, not to an alternate Golden Ticket nominee. A general (non-Golden-Ticket) applicant should understand their realistic odds may improve slightly if a Golden Ticket seat reverts, making the competitive pool effectively up to 30 seats in practice, not strictly capped at 23.
Calculate science prerequisite GPA against the specific 2.6 floor and 5-year currency window - both apply only to science courses, not the full prerequisite set
PAC requires a GPA calculated SPECIFICALLY from science prerequisites (not overall GPA) to be 2.6 or higher, with those same science courses required to have been taken within the last 5 years. A student with strong non-science prerequisite grades but weaker or older science coursework should calculate this narrower science-only GPA explicitly, since it's the determining number for this specific threshold - a strong overall GPA doesn't substitute for a weak science-specific GPA here.
Plan for a maximum of THREE entrance-exam attempts - and know the exam must be taken in person at a proctored site
PAC's nursing entrance assessment must be taken IN PERSON at a proctored testing site (not remotely), with explicit minimum scores required on a "given attempt" for the application to be considered, and a hard cap of only THREE total attempts allowed. A student should treat each of their three attempts seriously and prepare substantially between sittings, since running out of attempts without reaching the minimum threshold forecloses this nursing cycle entirely, not just delays it.
Expert Insight:
PAC's nursing application requires a written response addressing "Why do you want to be a nurse?" and "Describe your support system" specifically - the second prompt is an unusual, explicit ask about a student's personal support network, distinct from typical motivation-focused nursing essays at peer institutions. A student should prepare a genuine, specific answer about their actual support system (family, work flexibility, childcare arrangements, etc.) rather than treating it as a throwaway question, since PAC's program staff use it as part of the ranked application review, not just a formality.
Palo Alto College Profile
Full Name
Palo Alto College
City
San Antonio
State
Texas
ZIP Code
78224-2499
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a Palo Alto College Degree Worth It?
Getting into Palo Alto College can be a great opportunity for many students. It is a prestigious institution known for its strong programs. However, whether it is worth it depends on your personal and academic goals, as well as your financial situation. Palo Alto College offers a rigorous academic environment and access to cutting-edge research, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. It's important to consider factors such as cost, location, and specific academic programs when making this decision.
Please note that the average household income of the admitted students at Palo Alto College is $43,600 and the graduate unemployment rate is 4.23%.
How much does a degree from Palo Alto College Cost?
The average annual cost of the degree at Palo Alto College is $10,911. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at Palo Alto College is $4,374.
25.3% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 2.1 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to Palo Alto College and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.
At Palo Alto College, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist Palo Alto College as your choice in the form.
How much does a Palo Alto College Graduate earn?
The average annual salary of the graduate after 4–6 years of graduation is $37,448. An average Palo Alto College graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4–6 years after graduation).
The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is $40,595.
Degree Programs at Palo Alto College
Associate Degree Programs
Full list of all degree programs offered by Palo Alto College →
Frequently Asked Questions About Palo Alto College Admissions
Graduates of this university typically earn a lower salary, $37,448 annually, especially in non-technical fields.
The tuition fee at this university is relatively low, around $10,911 per year, making it more affordable for many students.
25.3% of students receive a Pell Grant at this institution. Your chances of need-based aid are moderate and depend primarily on your household income. Filing FAFSA early significantly improves your chances of receiving the maximum available grant amount.
Yes, many students successfully transfer each year. Be prepared with your academic transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement to make your application competitive.
To improve your chances, focus on excelling academically, building a strong extracurricular profile, and submitting standout essays. High SAT/ACT scores are also crucial for competitive admissions.