South Plains College vs. Lamar Institute of Technology

Comparable Facts

Compare South Plains College in Levelland, TX with Lamar Institute of Technology in Beaumont, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

South Plains College is larger than Lamar Institute of Technology based on total student enrollment (9,098 students vs. 5,680 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• South Plains College is located in Levelland, TX (Distant Town setting); Lamar Institute of Technology is in Beaumont, TX (Midsize City setting).
• South Plains 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: South Plains College 16:1; Lamar Institute of Technology 22:1.

South Plains College vs. Lamar Institute of Technology Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, South Plains 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 South Plains College than Lamar Institute of Technology ($6,494 vs. $12,382).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at South Plains College are 51% lower than at Lamar Institute of Technology ($5,481 vs. $11,178).
• South Plains College is 67.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lamar Institute of Technology (about $1,927 more per year; $4,771.00 vs. $2,844.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 150.7% higher at Lamar Institute of Technology than at South Plains College (about $7,769 more per year; $12,924.00 vs. $5,155.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at South Plains College than at Lamar Institute of Technology (78% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by South Plains College students is 9.5% larger than aid received by Lamar Institute of Technology students ($7,114 vs. $6,497).

South Plains College vs. Lamar Institute of Technology Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, South Plains 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 South Plains College.

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

South Plains College vs. Lamar Institute of Technology Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for South Plains 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 $7,400 more per year than South Plains College graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,700 vs. $39,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, South Plains College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Lamar Institute of Technology graduates ($10,500 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, South Plains College graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lamar Institute of Technology graduates ($108 vs. $124).
• More South Plains College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lamar Institute of Technology students, three years after graduation. (40% 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.