Lamar State College-Port Arthur vs. COM

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Mainland is larger than Lamar State College-Port Arthur based on total student enrollment (5,127 students vs. 4,680 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lamar State College Port Arthur is located in Port Arthur, TX (Small City setting); College of the Mainland is in Texas City, TX (Small Suburban setting).
• Lamar State College Port Arthur is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of the Mainland is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lamar State College Port Arthur 29:1; College of the Mainland 18:1.

Lamar State College-Port Arthur vs. COM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lamar State College-Port Arthur or COM? 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 COM ($2,543 vs. $3,252).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Mainland are 44.8% lower than at Lamar State College Port Arthur ($6,236 vs. $11,300).
• College of the Mainland is 94.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lamar State College-Port Arthur (about $1,680 more per year; $3,450.00 vs. $1,770.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 94.9% higher at Lamar State College-Port Arthur than at College of the Mainland (about $3,930 more per year; $8,070.00 vs. $4,140.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Mainland 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 57% larger than aid received by College of the Mainland students ($8,151 vs. $5,191).

Lamar State College-Port Arthur vs. COM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lamar State College-Port Arthur or COM? 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 COM and Lamar State College-Port Arthur.

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

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

How do outcomes compare for Lamar State College-Port Arthur and COM? 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 College of the Mainland earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than Lamar State College-Port Arthur graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,600 vs. $34,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Mainland graduates have a $2,776 lower median loan debt than Lamar State College-Port Arthur graduates ($7,224 vs. $10,000).
• Among borrowers, COM graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lamar State College-Port Arthur graduates ($74 vs. $103).
• More COM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lamar State College-Port Arthur students, three years after graduation. (31% 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.