HCC vs. Lamar State College-Port Arthur

Comparable Facts

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

Houston Community College is larger than Lamar State College-Port Arthur based on total student enrollment (53,253 students vs. 4,680 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Houston Community College is located in Houston, TX (Large City setting); Lamar State College Port Arthur is in Port Arthur, TX (Small City setting).
• Houston Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Lamar State College Port Arthur is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Houston Community College 23:1; Lamar State College Port Arthur 29:1.

HCC vs. Lamar State College-Port Arthur Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HCC or Lamar State College-Port Arthur? 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 Port Arthur than HCC ($2,543 vs. $5,734).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Houston Community College are 17.4% lower than at Lamar State College Port Arthur ($9,330 vs. $11,300).
• Houston Community College is 145.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lamar State College-Port Arthur (about $2,574 more per year; $4,344.00 vs. $1,770.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 47.8% higher at Lamar State College-Port Arthur than at Houston Community College (about $2,610 more per year; $8,070.00 vs. $5,460.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lamar State College Port Arthur than at Houston Community College (71% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lamar State College Port Arthur students is 20.4% larger than aid received by Houston Community College students ($8,151 vs. $6,768).

HCC vs. Lamar State College-Port Arthur Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HCC or Lamar State College-Port Arthur? 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-Port Arthur 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-Port Arthur - Open admission.

HCC vs. Lamar State College-Port Arthur Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HCC and Lamar State College-Port Arthur? 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 $3,800 more per year than Lamar State College-Port Arthur graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,200 vs. $34,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lamar State College Port Arthur graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than HCC graduates ($10,000 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Lamar State College-Port Arthur graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HCC graduates ($103 vs. $108).
• More Lamar State College-Port Arthur graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HCC students, three years after graduation. (28% 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.