Public Associate Good 68/100

Panola College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Carthage, Texas

About Panola College

Panola College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Carthage, Texas. It enrolls 1,388 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
Open
Graduation
21.6%
Net Price
$5,216
Median Earnings (10yr)
$36,072
Enrollment
1,388
Student : Faculty
12:1

Accreditor Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good
68/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 33
Value 82
Affordability 60
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Panola College generally admits all qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Panola College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $5,216 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$5,216
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
31%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
7%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$2,352
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$5,232
Room & Board (on-campus)
$7,048
Room & Board (off-campus)
$7,500
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$7,026
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$7,026
Total Cost of Attendance
$13,654

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $4,916
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $4,838
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $6,855
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $6,519

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$1,750
10% percentile
$2,750
25% percentile
$10,500
Median percentile
$9,636
75% percentile
$16,249
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $6,601 ↓ $3,899
No Pell $5,500 ↓ $5,000
Dependent students $5,500 ↓ $5,000
Independent students $8,250 ↓ $2,250
Female students $6,500 ↓ $4,000
Male students $5,500 ↓ $5,000
Pell recipients: 17.4% (1,831 students)No Pell: 14.5% (1,526 students)Dependent students: 14.5% (1,526 students)Independent students: 21.8% (2,289 students)Female students: 17.2% (1,803 students)Male students: 14.5% (1,526 students)Overall Median$10,500
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($10,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

22% of full-time students who enrolled at Panola College graduate within six years, and 57% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
22%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
57%
Returning for their second year
What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Panola College earn a median of $36,072 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$36,072
Earning > $25K
61%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$32,000$33,000$34,000$35,500$36,5006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$34,100

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$53,900

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $19,800, about 37% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Stable 4.5 pts across 6 years
60.5%1yr62.2%3yr65%5yr
What this signals: Moderate. Only 65% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Panola College is home to 1,388 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 51% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled
1,388
Part-Time
38%
First-Generation
51%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 50.8% 705
Black 22.6% 313
Hispanic 19.5% 270
Other 4.4% 61
International 1.8% 25
Asian 1.0% 14
White: 50.8% (705 students)Black: 22.6% (313 students)Hispanic: 19.5% (270 students)Other: 4.4% (61 students)International: 1.8% (25 students)Asian: 1.0% (14 students)Total1,388

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Panola College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Town: Distant Carthage, Texas
Housing
Partly residential 249 beds available
Adult Learners
18% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Panola College offers a varied set of programs: 22 distinct programs across 11 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

2 Programs
8 Programs
1 Program
3 Programs
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Panola College is 12:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$6,745
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$14M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$58,208
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

71 instructional faculty across 2 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Full Professors 51 72% $60,024
Instructors 20 28% $53,576

Pros & Cons of Panola College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Panola College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Very affordable net price after aid
  • Open admissions
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • Low typical debt at graduation
  • First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • First-year retention is below typical
  • Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for: Based on the data, Panola College is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Panola College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Panola College.

Is Panola College hard to get into?
Panola College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Panola College?
Panola College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Panola College cost?
The average net price after aid at Panola College is $5,216 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Panola College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $36,072 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $5,216 per year. That's roughly 6.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Panola College known for?
Panola College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Practical Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Panola College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Panola College are $36,072, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Panola College accredited?
Yes. Panola College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Panola College?
Panola College enrolls 1,388 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Panola College?
Panola College graduates 22% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Panola College a public or private college?
Panola College is a Public institution.
Where is Panola College located?
Panola College is located in Carthage, Texas.
What programs does Panola College offer?
Panola College offers 22 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Practical Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Panola College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Panola College is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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