Lamar State College-Port Arthur vs. Wharton County Junior College

Comparable Facts

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

Wharton County Junior College is larger than Lamar State College-Port Arthur based on total student enrollment (5,504 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); Wharton County Junior College is in Wharton, TX (Distant Town setting).
• Lamar State College Port Arthur is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Wharton County Junior College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lamar State College Port Arthur 29:1; Wharton County Junior College 16:1.

Lamar State College-Port Arthur vs. Wharton County Junior College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lamar State College-Port Arthur or Wharton County Junior 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 Wharton County Junior College ($2,543 vs. $3,754).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wharton County Junior College are 46.9% lower than at Lamar State College Port Arthur ($6,000 vs. $11,300).
• Wharton County Junior College is 163.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lamar State College-Port Arthur (about $2,886 more per year; $4,656.00 vs. $1,770.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 36.7% higher at Lamar State College-Port Arthur than at Wharton County Junior College (about $2,166 more per year; $8,070.00 vs. $5,904.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lamar State College Port Arthur than at Wharton County Junior College (71% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lamar State College Port Arthur students is 4.8% larger than aid received by Wharton County Junior College students ($8,151 vs. $7,776).

Lamar State College-Port Arthur vs. Wharton County Junior College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lamar State College-Port Arthur or Wharton County Junior 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 Wharton County Junior 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; Wharton County Junior College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wharton County Junior College Aug 14, 2027.

Lamar State College-Port Arthur vs. Wharton County Junior College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lamar State College-Port Arthur and Wharton County Junior 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 Wharton County Junior College earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than Lamar State College-Port Arthur graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,200 vs. $34,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wharton County Junior College graduates have a $2,545 lower median loan debt than Lamar State College-Port Arthur graduates ($7,455 vs. $10,000).
• Among borrowers, Wharton County Junior College graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lamar State College-Port Arthur graduates ($77 vs. $103).
• More Wharton County Junior 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.