Lamar State College-Port Arthur vs. Panola College

Comparable Facts

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

Lamar State College Port Arthur is larger than Panola College based on total student enrollment (4,680 students vs. 2,691 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lamar State College Port Arthur is located in Port Arthur, TX (Small City setting); Panola College is in Carthage, TX (Distant Town setting).
• Lamar State College Port Arthur is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Panola College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lamar State College Port Arthur 29:1; Panola College 14:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Lamar State College-Port Arthur or Panola 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 Panola College ($2,543 vs. $6,201).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Panola College are 37.6% lower than at Lamar State College Port Arthur ($7,048 vs. $11,300).
• Panola College is 130.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lamar State College-Port Arthur (about $2,310 more per year; $4,080.00 vs. $1,770.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 54.2% higher at Lamar State College-Port Arthur than at Panola College (about $2,838 more per year; $8,070.00 vs. $5,232.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Panola College than at Lamar State College Port Arthur (87% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lamar State College Port Arthur students is 9.4% larger than aid received by Panola College students ($8,151 vs. $7,449).

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

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

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

How do outcomes compare for Lamar State College-Port Arthur and Panola 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 Panola College earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than Lamar State College-Port Arthur graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,000 vs. $34,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Panola College graduates have a $2,206 lower median loan debt than Lamar State College-Port Arthur graduates ($7,794 vs. $10,000).
• Among borrowers, Panola College graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lamar State College-Port Arthur graduates ($80 vs. $103).
• More Panola College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lamar State College-Port Arthur students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.