Lamar State College-Port Arthur
#7 Most Affordable Colleges in Texas- Graduation Rate
- 38% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $37,120 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $2,846 A+
- 83% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,508
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 86.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $86.6 over 20 years. Ranked #7 in Most Affordable Colleges in Texas.
Every $1 spent returns $86.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $974,020.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 38% — 34% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $86.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Lamar State College-Port Arthur Matters
Lamar State College-Port Arthur is a public college in Port Arthur, TX and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 1,508
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Culinary & Personal Services, Mechanic & Repair Tech
Why students choose Lamar State College-Port Arthur
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $2,846 a year after grants and scholarships — 83% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $37,120 ten years after enrolling — 9% below the typical college, against $13,250 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.01 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Lamar State College-Port Arthur is a good fit for students seeking a supportive and focused environment. With around 1,500 students, it offers a tight-knit community where individuals can pursue hands-on programs in areas like Health Professions, Culinary Arts, and Business. This smaller scale enables personalized attention, which can make a significant difference in student success and engagement.
After graduation, students can expect to earn about $37,120 within ten years, which gives a sense of the financial return on their education. While the graduation rate sits at 38%, many graduates find solid career paths in their fields. The affordability of attending Lamar State is also a highlight, with an average net price of just $2,846 after aid. This makes it a practical choice for those looking to enter the workforce quickly without accumulating a heavy debt load.
In terms of financial outcomes, students graduate with a median debt of $13,250, which is manageable compared to potential earnings. The diverse programs attract a range of students, particularly those interested in trades or careers in health and business, who tend to thrive in this hands-on learning environment. Overall, Lamar State College-Port Arthur offers a practical, affordable pathway to a fulfilling career.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Lamar State College-Port Arthur is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Lamar State College-Port Arthur? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Port Arthur, Texas, Lamar State College-Port Arthur enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 38%.
- Retention Rate
- 67%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 59%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,460
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 18:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.70
- First-Gen Students
- 51%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lamar State College-Port Arthur? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Lamar State College-Port Arthur is $8,070, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $2,846. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,137 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,250 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $1,770
- Out-of-State
- $8,070
- Avg Net Price
- $2,846
- Median Debt
- $13,250
- Pell Grant Rate
- 21%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 7%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $1,137
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $1,554
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $3,959
- Family Income $110K+
- $9,346
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Lamar State College-Port Arthur — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Lamar State College-Port Arthur Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Lamar State College-Port Arthur report median earnings of $37,120, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $29,746
- 8 Years
- $34,911
- 10 Years
- $37,120
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.36x
- Earning > $25K
- 45%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (41)
- 13%
- 100% (41)
- 13%
- 100% (41)
- 13%
- 100% (41)
- 13%
How Lamar Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Lamar State College-Port Arthur Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Lamar State College-Port Arthur delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $2,846/year ($11,384 total). Graduates earn $37,120 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $985,404 in total earnings — a net gain of $974,020 (86.6× your investment). The median debt is $13,250, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 38% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $11,384
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $985,404
- Net Return
- $974,020
- ROI Multiple
- 86.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $2,846
- Median Debt
- $13,250
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 38%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields Lamar State College-Port Arthur awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 23%
- Health Professions 20% $68,105 early-career
- Culinary & Personal Services 17%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 9%
- Precision Production 7%
- Business & Marketing 4%
- Computer Science & IT 1%
- Visual & Performing Arts 1%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Lamar State College-Port Arthur's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Lamar State College-Port Arthur? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Port Arthur, Texas, Lamar State College-Port Arthur enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 38%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lamar State College-Port Arthur? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Lamar State College-Port Arthur is $8,070, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $2,846. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,137 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,250 in federal student loans.
Is Lamar State College-Port Arthur Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Lamar State College-Port Arthur report median earnings of $37,120, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Lamar State College-Port Arthur? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Lamar State College-Port Arthur. Its economic connectedness score is 1.01, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 17% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Lamar State College-Port Arthur.
- Snead State Community CollegeBoaz, AL · Close peer49% grad $35,735 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Clovis Community CollegeClovis, NM · Close peer38% grad $34,020 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Northwest Shoals Community CollegeMuscle Shoals, AL · Close peer36% grad $33,828 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Northeast Alabama Community CollegeRainsville, AL · Close peer53% grad $34,913 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Edgecombe Community CollegeTarboro, NC · Close peer45% grad $33,267 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- Nash Community CollegeRocky Mount, NC · Close peer46% grad $34,912 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Lamar State College-Port Arthur? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Lamar State College-Port Arthur. Its economic connectedness score is 1.01, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 17% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note