Lamar State College-Port Arthur vs. South Plains College

Comparable Facts

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

South Plains College is larger than Lamar State College-Port Arthur based on total student enrollment (9,098 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); South Plains College is in Levelland, TX (Distant Town setting).
• Lamar State College Port Arthur is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. South Plains College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lamar State College Port Arthur 29:1; South Plains College 16:1.

Lamar State College-Port Arthur vs. South Plains College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lamar State College-Port Arthur or South Plains 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 South Plains College ($2,543 vs. $6,494).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at South Plains College are 51.5% lower than at Lamar State College Port Arthur ($5,481 vs. $11,300).
• South Plains College is 169.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lamar State College-Port Arthur (about $3,001 more per year; $4,771.00 vs. $1,770.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 56.5% higher at Lamar State College-Port Arthur than at South Plains College (about $2,915 more per year; $8,070.00 vs. $5,155.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at South Plains College than at Lamar State College Port Arthur (78% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lamar State College Port Arthur students is 14.6% larger than aid received by South Plains College students ($8,151 vs. $7,114).

Lamar State College-Port Arthur vs. South Plains College Admissions comparison

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

Lamar State College-Port Arthur vs. South Plains College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lamar State College-Port Arthur and South Plains 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 South Plains College earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than Lamar State College-Port Arthur graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,300 vs. $34,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lamar State College Port Arthur graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than South Plains College graduates ($10,000 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Lamar State College-Port Arthur graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than South Plains College graduates ($103 vs. $108).
• More South Plains College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lamar State College-Port Arthur students, three years after graduation. (40% 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.