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Howard College
Big Spring, Texas · Public community college
Address: 1001 Birdwell Lane, Big Spring, TX 79720 · Phone: (432) 264-5000 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Howard College is a public trade school in Big Spring, Texas, offering cosmetology, LPN, and medical assistant programs, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Howard College's completion rate is 35.1%, below the Texas state average of 63.5%; graduates carry a median debt of $9,500 and earn a median of $38,382 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Howard College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here, and 23.7% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $23,580 | $30,680 | $47,180 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $48,910 | $62,240 | $68,410 |
| Medical assistants | $31,200 | $39,520 | $46,180 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $30,320 | $37,260 | $44,240 |
| Dental hygienists | $71,530 | $99,240 | $107,320 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $48,550 | $78,630 | $93,830 |
| Surgical technologists | $39,950 | $65,220 | $80,790 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Texas (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 64 | $21,303 | $13,702 | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 41 | $40,962 | $38,289 | $8,500 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 14 | $22,406 | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Associate degree | 12 | $51,215 | $59,648 | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 10 | $40,424 | $41,565 | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 9 | $49,238 | $47,260 | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 8 | $49,238 | $47,260 | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 5 | $49,238 | $47,260 | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 4 | $21,303 | $13,702 | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 2 | $40,424 | $41,565 | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Howard College is a public trade and career training campus in Big Spring, Texas. It participates in federal Title IV financial aid, meaning students can use FAFSA, federal loans, and Pell Grants to help pay for programs here. The school holds accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, along with program-specific accreditors including the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation, and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. Its most-completed programs are cosmetology (68 completers), LPN/LVN programs (41 completers), and medical assistant programs (15 completers), among 11 total program offerings spanning fields like dental hygiene, radiologic technology, surgical technology, and EMT training.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 35.1%, which is below the Texas state average of 63.5%. Graduates carry a median debt of $9,500, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $38,382. Cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 23.7% of students receive Pell Grants, reflecting the share of lower-income students enrolled.
This campus, located in a remote town setting, offers a mix of short career-training certificates (such as cosmetology and medical assistant programs) and longer allied-health tracks like LPN and dental hygiene programs, which may suit career changers seeking clinical credentials. Specific program lengths and schedules are not reported for this campus in federal data; prospective students should contact the school directly or review the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard to confirm accreditation status, current outcomes, and program details before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Howard College offers 11 trade and career programs, with cosmetology (68 completers), LPN/LVN programs (41 completers), and medical assistant programs (15 completers) as the most-completed. It also offers dental hygiene, radiologic technology, surgical technology, and EMT training.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, Howard College is accredited. Its accreditors include the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation, and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, Howard College participates in Title IV federal financial aid, so students can use FAFSA, federal loans, and Pell Grants. About 23.7% of its students currently receive Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate at Howard College is 35.1%, which is below the Texas state average of 63.5%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates of Howard College carry a median debt of $9,500, according to federal Scorecard data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings for graduates 10 years after entry are $38,382, per federal Scorecard data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school at (432) 264-5000 or visit howardcollege.edu for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Howard College is a public institution, which typically means lower tuition for state residents and access to state and federal funding support, though specific tuition figures are not reported here.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school directly to confirm program duration for specific tracks like cosmetology or LPN.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation status and review federal outcome data directly through the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?225520.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers both short career-training certificates, like cosmetology and medical assistant programs, and longer allied-health tracks such as LPN and dental hygiene, which may appeal to career changers, though specific program length and scheduling details are not reported in federal data.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can contact Howard College by phone at (432) 264-5000 or visit its website at https://www.howardcollege.edu/ for application details.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data on nearby schools offering the same trades is not reported for this campus in federal data; consult the College Scorecard to compare outcomes across institutions.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.