Henderson State University vs. Lamar University

Should I go to Henderson State University or Lamar University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Henderson State University 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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Henderson State University vs. Lamar University comparison
Henderson State University Lamar University College 3 College 4
Henderson State University Lamar University
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Overview

Henderson State University Lamar University
Location Arkadelphia, AR Beaumont, TX
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 2,519 16,803
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #976 #992
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hsu.edu lamar.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Henderson State University Lamar University
Tuition (In State) $5,880 $6,228
Tuition (Out of State) $8,088 $16,020
Room & Board $9,558 $9,884
Avg Net Price $17,656 $11,757
Avg Grant Aid $9,580 $10,397
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 95%

Admission

Henderson State University Lamar University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,345 6,214
Admitted 1,657 5,203
Acceptance Rate 70.7% 83.7%
Enrolled % 24.9% 28.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.23 3.4
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/21 14/19
SAT Range 903/1073 830/1030
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025

Academics

Henderson State University Lamar University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (18%)
  • General Studies (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Engineering (7%)

Outcomes

Henderson State University Lamar University
Graduation Rate 31% 31%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $45,500
Making Student Loan Payments 48% 42%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $22,000
Median Loan Payment $201 $227

Diversity

Henderson State University Lamar University
% Men 40% 34%
% Women 60% 66%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 66% 48%
% Black 24% 27%
% Hispanic 4% 15%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Henderson State University Lamar University
% In-State 81% 97%
% Out-of-State 19% 2%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Lamar University is larger than than Henderson State University based on total student enrollment (16,803 students vs. 2,519 students)

Henderson State University vs. Lamar University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Henderson State University or Lamar University?

  • Lamar University is 5.9% more expensive to attend than Henderson State University for in-state tuition ($6,228.00 vs. $5,880.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 98.1% higher at Lamar University than Henderson State University ($16,020.00 vs. $8,088.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Lamar University than Henderson State University ($11,757 vs. $17,656)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Henderson State University are 3.4% lower than costs at Lamar University ($9,558 vs. $9,884)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lamar University than Henderson State University (95% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lamar University students is 8.5% larger than aid received Henderson State University ($10,397 vs. $9,580)

Henderson State University vs. Lamar University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Henderson State University (988) is 14 points higher than at Lamar University (974)
  • Incoming Henderson State University students have at the same average ACT score (21) as students at Lamar University (21)
  • Accepted freshman Lamar University students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Henderson State University (3.23)
  • Lamar University has a higher acceptance rate (83.7%) than Henderson State University (70.7%)

Henderson State University vs. Lamar University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Henderson State University 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 Henderson State University.

  • The graduation rate at Henderson State University is the same as at Lamar University (31% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from Lamar University earn on average $7,100 more per year than Henderson State University graduates after ten years. ($45,500 vs. $38,400)
  • Henderson State University students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Lamar University graduates. ($19,500 vs. $22,000)
  • Henderson State University graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Lamar University graduates. ($201 vs. $227)
  • More Henderson State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lamar University students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 42%)

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