Lamar State College-Port Arthur vs. Western Texas College

Comparable Facts

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

Lamar State College Port Arthur is larger than Western Texas College based on total student enrollment (4,680 students vs. 1,385 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lamar State College Port Arthur is located in Port Arthur, TX (Small City setting); Western Texas College is in Snyder, TX (Rural Fringe setting).
• Lamar State College Port Arthur is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Western Texas College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lamar State College Port Arthur 29:1; Western Texas College 17:1.

Lamar State College-Port Arthur vs. Western Texas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lamar State College-Port Arthur or Western Texas 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 Western Texas College ($2,543 vs. $6,153).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Texas College are 48.8% lower than at Lamar State College Port Arthur ($5,786 vs. $11,300).
• Western Texas College is 176.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lamar State College-Port Arthur (about $3,120 more per year; $4,890.00 vs. $1,770.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 31.2% higher at Lamar State College-Port Arthur than at Western Texas College (about $1,920 more per year; $8,070.00 vs. $6,150.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lamar State College Port Arthur than at Western Texas College (71% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lamar State College Port Arthur students is 10.2% larger than aid received by Western Texas College students ($8,151 vs. $7,399).

Lamar State College-Port Arthur vs. Western Texas College Admissions comparison

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

Lamar State College-Port Arthur vs. Western Texas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lamar State College-Port Arthur and Western Texas 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 Western Texas College earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than Lamar State College-Port Arthur graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,200 vs. $34,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Texas College graduates have a $1,181 lower median loan debt than Lamar State College-Port Arthur graduates ($8,819 vs. $10,000).
• Among borrowers, Western Texas College graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lamar State College-Port Arthur graduates ($91 vs. $103).
• More Western Texas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lamar State College-Port Arthur students, three years after graduation. (42% 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.