Palo Alto College vs. Lamar Institute of Technology

Comparable Facts

Compare Palo Alto College in San Antonio, TX with Lamar Institute of Technology in Beaumont, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Palo Alto College is larger than Lamar Institute of Technology based on total student enrollment (12,395 students vs. 5,680 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Palo Alto College is located in San Antonio, TX (Large City setting); Lamar Institute of Technology is in Beaumont, TX (Midsize City setting).
• Palo Alto College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Lamar Institute of Technology is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Palo Alto College 31:1; Lamar Institute of Technology 22:1.

Palo Alto College vs. Lamar Institute of Technology Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palo Alto College or Lamar Institute of Technology? 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 Palo Alto College than Lamar Institute of Technology ($4,805 vs. $12,382).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lamar Institute of Technology are 21.6% lower than at Palo Alto College ($11,178 vs. $14,250).
• Palo Alto College is 94.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lamar Institute of Technology (about $2,698 more per year; $5,542.00 vs. $2,844.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 29.9% higher at Lamar Institute of Technology than at Palo Alto College (about $2,972 more per year; $12,924.00 vs. $9,952.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palo Alto College than at Lamar Institute of Technology (92% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Palo Alto College students is 7.5% larger than aid received by Lamar Institute of Technology students ($6,983 vs. $6,497).

Palo Alto College vs. Lamar Institute of Technology Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Palo Alto College or Lamar Institute of Technology? 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 Lamar Institute of Technology and Palo Alto College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Palo Alto College - Open admission; Lamar Institute of Technology - Open admission.

Palo Alto College vs. Lamar Institute of Technology Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palo Alto College and Lamar Institute of Technology? 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 Lamar Institute of Technology earn a median of about $14,900 more per year than Palo Alto College graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,700 vs. $31,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have a $6,500 lower median loan debt than Lamar Institute of Technology graduates ($5,500 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Palo Alto College graduates have an estimated $68 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lamar Institute of Technology graduates ($56 vs. $124).
• More Palo Alto College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lamar Institute of Technology students, three years after graduation. (38% vs. 30%)

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.