Lamar State College-Orange vs. Southwest University at El Paso

Comparable Facts

Compare Lamar State College Orange in Orange, TX with Southwest University at El Paso in El Paso, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lamar State College Orange is larger than Southwest University at El Paso based on total student enrollment (3,629 students vs. 2,130 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lamar State College Orange is located in Orange, TX (Distant Town setting); Southwest University at El Paso is in El Paso, TX (Large City setting).
• Lamar State College Orange is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwest University at El Paso is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lamar State College Orange 23:1; Southwest University at El Paso 20:1.

Lamar State College-Orange vs. Southwest University at El Paso Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lamar State College-Orange or Southwest University at El Paso? 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 Southwest University at El Paso ($600 vs. $16,906).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwest University at El Paso are 54.2% lower than at Lamar State College Orange ($4,340 vs. $9,486).
• Southwest University at El Paso is 352% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lamar State College-Orange (about $12,460 more per year; $16,000.00 vs. $3,540.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8% higher at Lamar State College-Orange than at Southwest University at El Paso (about $1,280 more per year; $17,280.00 vs. $16,000.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwest University at El Paso than at Lamar State College Orange (96% vs. 70%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwest University at El Paso students is 12.4% larger than aid received by Lamar State College Orange students ($7,081 vs. $6,302).

Lamar State College-Orange vs. Southwest University at El Paso Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lamar State College-Orange or Southwest University at El Paso? 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 Southwest University at El Paso and Lamar State College-Orange.

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

Lamar State College-Orange vs. Southwest University at El Paso Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lamar State College-Orange and Southwest University at El Paso? 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).

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lamar State College Orange graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than Southwest University at El Paso graduates ($11,500 vs. $15,500).
• Among borrowers, Lamar State College-Orange graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Southwest University at El Paso graduates ($118 vs. $160).
• More Lamar State College-Orange graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwest University at El Paso students, three years after graduation. (33% vs. 17%)

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.