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SHSU TAMUK University of Houston-Downtown Texas State PVAMU UNT Tarleton UH TSU Texas Tech UT Arlington A&M Commerce| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Lamar University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Lamar University | ||
| Location | Magnolia, AR | Beaumont, TX | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 5,094 | 16,803 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #868 | #992 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | saumag.edu | lamar.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Lamar University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,020 | $6,228 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $12,450 | $16,020 | ||
| Room & Board | $7,809 | $9,884 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,056 | $11,757 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,316 | $10,397 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 95% |
Admission |
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Lamar University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,916 | 6,214 | ||
| Admitted | 1,855 | 5,203 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 63.6% | 83.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 38.1% | 28.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.46 | 3.4 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 17/24 | 14/19 | ||
| SAT Range | 905/1190 | 830/1030 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Required to be considered for admission | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 27, 2025 |
Academics |
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Lamar University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 20:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Lamar University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 34% | 31% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,900 | $45,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 44% | 42% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $17,020 | $22,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $175 | $227 |
Diversity |
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Lamar University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 45% | 34% | ||
| % Women | 55% | 66% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 63% | 48% | ||
| % Black | 28% | 27% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 15% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 0% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 2% |
Students |
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Lamar University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 97% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 2% | ||
Campus |
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Lamar University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Lamar University is larger than than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus based on total student enrollment (16,803 students vs. 5,094 students)
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. Lamar University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus or Lamar University?
- Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is 12.7% more expensive to attend than Lamar University for in-state tuition ($7,020.00 vs. $6,228.00)
- Out of state tuition is 28.7% higher at Lamar University than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ($16,020.00 vs. $12,450.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Lamar University than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ($11,757 vs. $14,056)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus are 26.6% lower than costs at Lamar University ($7,809 vs. $9,884)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus than Lamar University (99% vs. 95%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Lamar University students is 11.6% larger than aid received Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ($10,397 vs. $9,316)
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. Lamar University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus or Lamar University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Lamar University or Southern Arkansas University Main Campus .
- The average SAT score at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (988) is 14 points higher than at Lamar University (974)
- Incoming Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students have at the same average ACT score (21) as students at Lamar University (21)
- Accepted freshman Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at Lamar University (3.4)
- Lamar University has a higher acceptance rate (83.7%) than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (63.6%)
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. Lamar University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus or Lamar University? 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 Lamar University and Southern Arkansas University Main Campus.
- The graduation rate at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is higher than Lamar University (34% vs. 31%)
- Graduates from Lamar University earn on average $7,600 more per year than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates after ten years. ($45,500 vs. $37,900)
- Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students graduate with a $4,980 lower median federal student loan debt than Lamar University graduates. ($17,020 vs. $22,000)
- Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Lamar University graduates. ($175 vs. $227)
- More Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lamar University students, three years after graduation. (44% vs. 42%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/