Alamo Colleges District is a public network of five colleges, not a single campus. San Antonio College dates to 1925; St. Philip’s traces its beginnings to 1898; Palo Alto began in the 1980s, followed by Northwest Vista in the 1990s and Northeast Lakeview in the 2000s. Their programs and locations reflect different parts of the region, from health and liberal arts to aviation, skilled trades and transfer study. The district serves Bexar and seven surrounding counties, so a student’s home address can affect tuition and the campus that is most practical.
Applying and choosing a program
Most applicants start with the district application, submit required records and complete advising and placement steps for English and mathematics. Some programs have extra prerequisites, selective admission or separate deadlines. Alamo Colleges lists more than 350 degree and certificate options across its colleges. Associate pathways commonly support transfer or entry into a career; certificates vary in length, and the catalog gives the credit total and sequence for each program. An applied bachelor’s is available in selected fields. Review the application steps and confirm the program’s home college before choosing classes.
Published tuition for 2026–27
The FY 2026–27 schedule sets standard tuition at $109 per semester credit hour for Texas residents in Bexar County, $180 for Texas residents in the district service area outside Bexar, and $327 for non-Texas and international students taking regular on-campus courses. Fully online non-Texas students have a separate $180 e-rate; international online students are listed at $476. A $3-per-credit activity fee and a $25-per-semester student-support fee also apply, with the latter capped at $50 per academic year. AlamoBOOKS+ is included in tuition. Nursing, health, technical and other designated programs may have additional per-credit charges, so the standard rate alone is not a complete bill. Use the current tuition schedule and ask the college to estimate your own credits and residency category.
Financial aid and scholarships
Students seeking federal aid begin with FAFSA and select the school code for the college they plan to attend; each Alamo college has its own code. Eligible Texas residents who cannot complete FAFSA may have a state TASFA route. AlamoPROMISE and other scholarships have defined residency, graduation-year, enrollment and academic-progress rules; they are not automatic discounts for every applicant. Submit aid documents early, monitor the ACES account and meet with financial-aid staff before relying on a grant to cover a balance. Check FAFSA and TASFA instructions and verify deadlines for the intended term.
Learning English before or alongside college study
There is no single ESL route for every learner. San Antonio College’s Center for English Language Learning offers noncredit instruction as well as credit-bearing English language and academic preparation; the credit pathway has college admission and placement steps. Northwest Vista lists six noncredit levels, each 72 hours over eight weeks, with a published $400 course price and morning, evening and Saturday options; confirm the next session because seats and schedules change. Palo Alto’s adult ESL program uses a placement assessment and advertises free classes, with term-specific registration. Alamo Technical Institute also lists English, high-school-equivalency and short workforce training through community sites; eligibility and intake requirements differ. Start with the closest program, ask whether it carries college credit, and request the next placement date before traveling.
Which location fits?
San Antonio College, just north of downtown, combines academic programs, student services and its English-language center; the college notes VIA bus stops on or near campus and visitor access to open lots, while warning that parking can be difficult at peak class times. St. Philip’s MLK Campus in the East Side is the home of arts, health, trades and student services; its map identifies public parking by temporary permit, a health and fitness center, library, welcome center and VIA stops. St. Philip’s Southwest Campus offers a separate South Side setting with career and technical programs. Palo Alto College, Northwest Vista and Northeast Lakeview broaden the network across the south, west and northeast; NLC’s address is in Universal City, not San Antonio proper. The district also operates Eastside, Southside and Westside Education & Training Centers and the Workforce Center of Excellence for adult education and career training.
Students can use free designated student parking at district campuses, but the rules for visitors and particular lots differ; consult the exact campus map. VIA publishes routes and trip planning, and some campuses provide additional transit options. A profile below identifies each location’s focus and gives a route link, while the live class schedule determines where a specific section meets. Before applying, compare program prerequisites, course credits, total fees, transportation and whether the plan leads to a certificate, associate degree or transfer pathway.
Check current details and choose according to your budget, time and way of travelling.
Options to compare
These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.
San Antonio College — Main Campus
1819 N Main Ave, San Antonio, TX 78212
San Antonio College sits at 1819 N Main Avenue in Midtown, just north of downtown. Founded in 1925, it is the oldest of the Alamo Colleges and has grown into a large campus with classrooms, science and health buildings, a library, student services and academic support. Its central location makes it
The district’s oldest academic campus, with college services, transfer and career study, plus the Center for English Language Learning.
St. Philip’s College — MLK Campus
1801 Martin Luther King Dr, San Antonio, TX 78203
St. Philip’s MLK Campus stands at 1801 Martin Luther King Drive on San Antonio’s East Side. The institution began in 1898 as a school serving Black residents and later developed into a public college; its history is closely tied to education access and workforce preparation in the city. The campus n
A historic East Side college campus with health professions, technical education, arts and student services.
St. Philip’s College — Southwest Campus
800 Quintana Rd, San Antonio, TX 78211
The Southwest Campus at 800 Quintana Road gives St. Philip’s a second location on San Antonio’s South Side, separate from the larger MLK campus. Students who live nearby can reach selected career and technical courses without crossing the city for every class. The district identifies it as a St. Phi
St. Philip’s South Side site for career and technical programs, with location-specific classes and services.
Palo Alto College’s 132-acre campus at 1400 W Villaret Boulevard anchors the South Side and serves students from southern San Antonio and surrounding communities. The college grew from community demand for nearby higher education and opened in 1985. Its campus includes academic buildings, the Ozuna
South Side campus with adult English classes, academic programs, library, wellness and student services.
Northwest Vista College occupies a west-side campus at 3535 N Ellison Drive. It opened in 1995 and has expanded into a landscaped campus with academic buildings, the Palmetto Center for the Arts, STEM and learning centers, library, student services and outdoor gathering areas. Its location serves th
West-side campus with a six-level English program, arts, STEM and student services.
Northeast Lakeview College
1201 Kitty Hawk Rd, Universal City, TX 78148
Northeast Lakeview College is at 1201 Kitty Hawk Road in Universal City, northeast of San Antonio. The district opened the college in 2008 to serve a growing part of the region, including northeast Bexar County and neighboring communities. Because the campus is outside San Antonio city limits, stude
A northeast regional campus in Universal City, with student support, transfer and career programs, and access to VIA Link.
Alamo Technical Institute — Workforce Center of Excellence
203 Norton St, San Antonio, TX 78211
Alamo Technical Institute (ATI) connects San Antonio residents with adult English, high-school-equivalency preparation and short workforce training. Its Workforce Center of Excellence at 203 Norton Street is a training and meeting facility near downtown; the district directory lists it separately fr
Adult English, high-school equivalency and short workforce training through Alamo Technical Institute; several neighborhood centers are listed below.
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website of San Antonio College — Main Campus ↗
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San Antonio College · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of San Antonio College — Main Campus ↗
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San Antonio College · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of San Antonio College — Main Campus ↗
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San Antonio College · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of St. Philip’s College — MLK Campus ↗
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St. Philip’s College · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of St. Philip’s College — MLK Campus ↗
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Alamo Colleges District · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of St. Philip’s College — MLK Campus ↗
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St. Philip’s College · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of St. Philip’s College — Southwest Campus ↗
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St. Philip’s College · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of St. Philip’s College — Southwest Campus ↗
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Alamo Colleges District · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of St. Philip’s College — Southwest Campus ↗
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St. Philip’s College · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of Palo Alto College ↗
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Palo Alto College · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of Palo Alto College ↗
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Palo Alto College · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of Palo Alto College ↗
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Alamo Colleges District · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of Palo Alto College ↗
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Palo Alto College · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of Northwest Vista College ↗
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Northwest Vista College · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of Northwest Vista College ↗
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Northwest Vista College · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of Northwest Vista College ↗
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Northwest Vista College · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of Northwest Vista College ↗
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Alamo Colleges District · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of Northeast Lakeview College ↗
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Alamo Colleges District · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Northeast Lakeview College ↗
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Northeast Lakeview College · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Northeast Lakeview College ↗
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Northeast Lakeview College · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Alamo Technical Institute — Workforce Center of Excellence ↗
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Alamo Colleges District · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Alamo Technical Institute — Workforce Center of Excellence ↗
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Alamo Colleges District · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Alamo Technical Institute — Workforce Center of Excellence ↗
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Alamo Colleges District · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Alamo Technical Institute — Workforce Center of Excellence ↗
Primary source
Alamo Colleges District · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
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Alamo Colleges District · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
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Alamo Colleges District · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
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Alamo Colleges District · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
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Alamo Colleges District · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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Alamo Colleges District · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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Alamo Colleges District · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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San Antonio College · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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Northwest Vista College · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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Palo Alto College · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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Alamo Colleges District · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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Alamo Colleges District · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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Alamo Colleges District · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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VIA Metropolitan Transit · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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Alamo Colleges District · Accessed October 27, 2026
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