Lamar State College-Port Arthur vs. Palo Alto College

Comparable Facts

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

Palo Alto College is larger than Lamar State College-Port Arthur based on total student enrollment (12,395 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); Palo Alto College is in San Antonio, TX (Large City setting).
• Lamar State College Port Arthur is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palo Alto College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lamar State College Port Arthur 29:1; Palo Alto College 31:1.

Lamar State College-Port Arthur vs. Palo Alto College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lamar State College-Port Arthur or Palo Alto College? 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 Palo Alto College ($2,543 vs. $4,805).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lamar State College Port Arthur are 20.7% lower than at Palo Alto College ($11,300 vs. $14,250).
• Palo Alto College is 213.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lamar State College-Port Arthur (about $3,772 more per year; $5,542.00 vs. $1,770.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 23.3% higher at Palo Alto College than at Lamar State College Port Arthur (about $1,882 more per year; $9,952.00 vs. $8,070.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palo Alto College than at Lamar State College Port Arthur (92% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lamar State College Port Arthur students is 16.7% larger than aid received by Palo Alto College students ($8,151 vs. $6,983).

Lamar State College-Port Arthur vs. Palo Alto College Admissions comparison

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

Lamar State College-Port Arthur vs. Palo Alto College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lamar State College-Port Arthur and Palo Alto College? 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 $2,600 more per year than Palo Alto College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,400 vs. $31,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Lamar State College-Port Arthur graduates ($5,500 vs. $10,000).
• Among borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lamar State College-Port Arthur graduates ($56 vs. $103).
• More Palo Alto College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lamar State College-Port Arthur students, three years after graduation. (38% 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.