HCC vs. Lamar State College-Orange

Comparable Facts

Compare Houston Community College in Houston, TX with Lamar State College Orange in Orange, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Houston Community College is larger than Lamar State College-Orange based on total student enrollment (53,253 students vs. 3,629 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Houston Community College is located in Houston, TX (Large City setting); Lamar State College Orange is in Orange, TX (Distant Town setting).
• Houston Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Lamar State College Orange is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Houston Community College 23:1; Lamar State College Orange 23:1.

HCC vs. Lamar State College-Orange Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HCC or Lamar State College-Orange? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Lamar State College Orange than HCC ($600 vs. $5,734).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Houston Community College are 1.6% lower than at Lamar State College Orange ($9,330 vs. $9,486).
• Houston Community College is 22.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lamar State College-Orange (about $804 more per year; $4,344.00 vs. $3,540.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 216.5% higher at Lamar State College-Orange than at Houston Community College (about $11,820 more per year; $17,280.00 vs. $5,460.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lamar State College Orange than at Houston Community College (70% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Houston Community College students is 7.4% larger than aid received by Lamar State College Orange students ($6,768 vs. $6,302).

HCC vs. Lamar State College-Orange Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HCC or Lamar State College-Orange? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Lamar State College-Orange and HCC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HCC - Open admission; Lamar State College-Orange - Open admission.

HCC vs. Lamar State College-Orange Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HCC and Lamar State College-Orange? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Houston Community College earn a median of about $5,900 more per year than Lamar State College-Orange graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,200 vs. $32,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Houston Community College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Lamar State College-Orange graduates ($10,500 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, HCC graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lamar State College-Orange graduates ($108 vs. $118).
• More Lamar State College-Orange graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HCC students, three years after graduation. (33% vs. 25%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.