Cal State LA vs. Lamar University

Should I go to California State University Los Angeles or Lamar University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal State LA or Lamar University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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California State University Los Angeles vs. Lamar University comparison
California State University Los Angeles Lamar University College 3 College 4
California State University Los Angeles Lamar University
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Overview

Cal State LA Lamar University
Location Los Angeles, CA Beaumont, TX
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 26,460 16,803
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #947 #992
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calstatela.edu lamar.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cal State LA Lamar University
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $6,228
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $16,020
Room & Board $17,998 $9,884
Avg Net Price $5,801 $11,757
Avg Grant Aid $10,907 $10,397
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 95%

Admission

Cal State LA Lamar University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 33,939 6,214
Admitted 29,507 5,203
Acceptance Rate 86.9% 83.7%
Enrolled % 13.2% 28.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 3.4
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/20 14/19
SAT Range 870/1060 830/1030
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 19, 2025

Academics

Cal State LA Lamar University
Student to Faculty Ratio 22:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Business (18%)
  • General Studies (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Engineering (7%)

Outcomes

Cal State LA Lamar University
Graduation Rate 36% 31%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,900 $45,500
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 42%
Median Student Loan Debt $12,920 $22,000
Median Loan Payment $133 $227

Diversity

Cal State LA Lamar University
% Men 41% 34%
% Women 59% 66%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 7% 48%
% Black 4% 27%
% Hispanic 63% 15%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 6% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

Cal State LA Lamar University
% In-State 99% 97%
% Out-of-State 0% 2%

Campus

Cal State LA Lamar University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California State University Los Angeles is larger than than Lamar University based on total student enrollment (26,460 students vs. 16,803 students)

Cal State LA vs. Lamar University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State LA or Lamar University?

  • Lamar University is 8.5% more expensive to attend than Cal State LA for in-state tuition ($6,228.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10% higher at Cal State LA than Lamar University ($17,622.00 vs. $16,020.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Los Angeles than Lamar University ($5,801 vs. $11,757)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lamar University are 82.1% lower than costs at California State University Los Angeles ($9,884 vs. $17,998)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lamar University than California State University Los Angeles (95% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Los Angeles students is 4.9% larger than aid received Lamar University ($10,907 vs. $10,397)

Cal State LA vs. Lamar University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State LA or Lamar University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Lamar University or Cal State LA .

  • The average SAT score at Lamar University (974) is 100 points higher than at Cal State LA (874)
  • Incoming Lamar University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Cal State LA (18)
  • Accepted freshman Lamar University students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Cal State LA (3.31)
  • Cal State LA has a higher acceptance rate (86.9%) than Lamar University (83.7%)

Cal State LA vs. Lamar University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cal State LA or Lamar University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Lamar University and Cal State LA.

  • The graduation rate at Cal State LA is higher than Lamar University (36% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from California State University Los Angeles earn on average $1,400 more per year than Lamar University graduates after ten years. ($46,900 vs. $45,500)
  • California State University Los Angeles students graduate with a $9,080 lower median federal student loan debt than Lamar University graduates. ($12,920 vs. $22,000)
  • Cal State LA graduates are paying $94 less per month on federal student loans than Lamar University graduates. ($133 vs. $227)
  • More Cal State LA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lamar University students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 42%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/