Howard College vs. Lamar State College-Port Arthur

Comparable Facts

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

Lamar State College Port Arthur is larger than Howard College based on total student enrollment (4,680 students vs. 4,101 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Howard College is located in Big Spring, TX (Remote Town setting); Lamar State College Port Arthur is in Port Arthur, TX (Small City setting).
• Howard 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: Howard College 25:1; Lamar State College Port Arthur 29:1.

Howard College vs. Lamar State College-Port Arthur Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard College 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 Howard College ($2,543 vs. $6,491).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Howard College are 46.3% lower than at Lamar State College Port Arthur ($6,064 vs. $11,300).
• Howard College is 197.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lamar State College-Port Arthur (about $3,496 more per year; $5,266.00 vs. $1,770.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 20.2% higher at Lamar State College-Port Arthur than at Howard College (about $1,354 more per year; $8,070.00 vs. $6,716.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Howard College than at Lamar State College Port Arthur (81% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lamar State College Port Arthur students is 8.8% larger than aid received by Howard College students ($8,151 vs. $7,494).

Howard College vs. Lamar State College-Port Arthur Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Howard College 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 Howard College.

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

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

How do outcomes compare for Howard College 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 Lamar State College Port Arthur earn a median of about $400 more per year than Howard College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,400 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Howard College graduates have a $3,250 lower median loan debt than Lamar State College-Port Arthur graduates ($6,750 vs. $10,000).
• Among borrowers, Howard College graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lamar State College-Port Arthur graduates ($69 vs. $103).
• More Howard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lamar State College-Port Arthur students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 28%)

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.