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University of Houston-Downtown SFASU Tarleton Texas State UNT TAMUK Texas A&M UH A&M Commerce UTSA Texas Tech PVAMU| Lamar University | Sam Houston State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Lamar University | SHSU | ||
| Location | Beaumont, TX | Huntsville, TX | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 16,803 | 21,480 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #992 | #778 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | lamar.edu | shsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Lamar University | SHSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $6,228 | $5,856 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $16,020 | $15,648 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,884 | $10,908 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $11,757 | $13,632 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,397 | $10,499 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 95% | 73% |
Admission |
Lamar University | SHSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,214 | 16,316 | ||
| Admitted | 5,203 | 13,809 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 83.7% | 84.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.5% | 24.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.4 | 3.25 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 14/19 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 830/1030 | 960/1140 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Lamar University | SHSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 20:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Lamar University | SHSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 31% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $45,500 | $47,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 42% | 57% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,000 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $222 |
Diversity |
Lamar University | SHSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 34% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 66% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 48% | 53% | ||
| % Black | 27% | 19% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 20% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 2% |
Students |
Lamar University | SHSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 97% | 98% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 2% | 1% | ||
Campus |
Lamar University | SHSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Sam Houston State University is larger than than Lamar University based on total student enrollment (21,480 students vs. 16,803 students)
Lamar University vs. SHSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Lamar University or SHSU?
- Lamar University is 6.4% more expensive to attend than SHSU for in-state tuition ($6,228.00 vs. $5,856.00)
- Out of state tuition is 2.4% higher at Lamar University than Sam Houston State University ($16,020.00 vs. $15,648.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Lamar University than SHSU ($11,757 vs. $13,632)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lamar University are 10.4% lower than costs at Sam Houston State University ($9,884 vs. $10,908)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Lamar University than Sam Houston State University (95% vs. 73%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Sam Houston State University students is 1% larger than aid received Lamar University ($10,499 vs. $10,397)
Lamar University vs. SHSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Lamar University or SHSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SHSU or Lamar University .
- The average SAT score at Sam Houston State University (997) is 23 points higher than at Lamar University (974)
- Incoming SHSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Lamar University (21)
- Accepted freshman Lamar University students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at SHSU (3.25)
- SHSU has a higher acceptance rate (84.6%) than Lamar University (83.7%)
Lamar University vs. SHSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Lamar University or SHSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SHSU and Lamar University.
- The graduation rate at SHSU is higher than Lamar University (50% vs. 31%)
- Graduates from Sam Houston State University earn on average $2,300 more per year than Lamar University graduates after ten years. ($47,800 vs. $45,500)
- Sam Houston State University students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than Lamar University graduates. ($21,500 vs. $22,000)
- SHSU graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than Lamar University graduates. ($222 vs. $227)
- More SHSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lamar University students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 42%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/