Lamar University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Beaumont, Texas. It enrolls 8,150 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
67/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes12
Value92
Affordability86
Selectivity23
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 86.4%, Lamar University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
86.4%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
930 – 1140
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
18 – 25
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Lamar University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
1.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Lamar University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $9,366 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$9,366
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
46%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
42%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$8,905
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$18,745
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,464
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,636
Books & Supplies
$1,250
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,090
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,290
Total Cost of Attendance
$22,254
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$7,568
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,261
$48,001 – $75,000
$8,545
$75,001 – $110,000
$13,689
Over $110,000
$16,292
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$21,250Medianpercentile
$25,00075%percentile
$39,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $15,000
↓ $6,250
No Pell $9,814
↓ $11,436
Dependent students $12,267
↓ $8,983
Independent students $12,500
↓ $8,750
Female students $13,131
↓ $8,119
Male students $11,750
↓ $9,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($21,250), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
32% of full-time students who enrolled at Lamar University graduate within six years, and 61% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
32%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
61%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Lamar University earn a median of $49,652 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$49,652
Earning > $25K
76%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$38,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$57,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$42,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$46,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$53,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $19,200, about 33% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
18.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 75% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Lamar University is home to 8,150 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 43% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
8,150
Part-Time
22%
First-Generation
43%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 37.7%3,069
Black 29.9%2,436
Hispanic 22.2%1,808
Asian 5.0%407
Other 2.1%170
International 1.0%79
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Lamar University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityBeaumont, Texas
Housing
Partly residential2,505 beds available
Adult Learners
32%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Lamar University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
90 distinct programs across
23 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Lamar University is 18:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
18:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$8,766
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$157M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$80,304
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
401 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
79
20%
$110,278
Associate Professors
120
30%
$88,218
Assistant Professors
78
19%
$74,663
Instructors
124
31%
$57,342
Pros & Cons of Lamar University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Lamar University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Lamar University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lamar University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Lamar University.
Is Lamar University hard to get into?
Lamar University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 86.4%.
What is the acceptance rate at Lamar University?
Lamar University has an acceptance rate of 86.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Lamar University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Lamar University scored between 930 and 1140 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Lamar University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Lamar University scored between 18 and 25 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Lamar University cost?
The average net price after aid at Lamar University is $9,366 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Lamar University worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $49,652 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $9,366 per year. That's roughly 5.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Lamar University known for?
Lamar University is best known for its programs in Educational Administration, Counseling Psychology, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Lamar University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Lamar University are $49,652, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Lamar University accredited?
Yes. Lamar University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Lamar University?
Lamar University enrolls 8,150 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Lamar University?
Lamar University graduates 32% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Lamar University a public or private college?
Lamar University is a Public institution.
Where is Lamar University located?
Lamar University is located in Beaumont, Texas.
What programs does Lamar University offer?
Lamar University offers 90 distinct programs. The most popular include Educational Administration, Counseling Psychology, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Lamar University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Lamar University is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Rankings That Feature Lamar University
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