Lamar State College-Port Arthur vs. Southwest University at El Paso

Comparable Facts

Compare Lamar State College Port Arthur in Port Arthur, 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 Port Arthur is larger than Southwest University at El Paso based on total student enrollment (4,680 students vs. 2,130 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lamar State College Port Arthur is located in Port Arthur, TX (Small City setting); Southwest University at El Paso is in El Paso, TX (Large City setting).
• Lamar State College Port Arthur 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 Port Arthur 29:1; Southwest University at El Paso 20:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Lamar State College-Port Arthur 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 Port Arthur than Southwest University at El Paso ($2,543 vs. $16,906).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwest University at El Paso are 61.6% lower than at Lamar State College Port Arthur ($4,340 vs. $11,300).
• Southwest University at El Paso is 804% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lamar State College-Port Arthur (about $14,230 more per year; $16,000.00 vs. $1,770.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 98.3% higher at Southwest University at El Paso than at Lamar State College Port Arthur (about $7,930 more per year; $16,000.00 vs. $8,070.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwest University at El Paso than at Lamar State College Port Arthur (96% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lamar State College Port Arthur students is 15.1% larger than aid received by Southwest University at El Paso students ($8,151 vs. $7,081).

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

Which college is harder to get into, Lamar State College-Port Arthur 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-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; Southwest University at El Paso - Open admission.

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

How do outcomes compare for Lamar State College-Port Arthur 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 Port Arthur graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than Southwest University at El Paso graduates ($10,000 vs. $15,500).
• Among borrowers, Lamar State College-Port Arthur graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Southwest University at El Paso graduates ($103 vs. $160).
• More Lamar State College-Port Arthur graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwest University at El Paso students, three years after graduation. (28% 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.