Lamar University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Lamar University charges a net price of $9,366/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $37,464. Graduates earn a median $49,652 ten years after entry, $1,292/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 29 years — a 20-year net return of -$11,624, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Lamar University's 29-year payback ranks #1,130 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 12% of them, and #61 of 213 in Texas.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $9,366/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $37,464 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $49,652 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $1,292/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $21,250 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 29 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$11,624 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Lamar University's own numbers. Net price $9,366 × 4 years = $37,464 total. Median earnings $49,652 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $1,292 a year of premium. $37,464 ÷ $1,292 = 29 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$11,624. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Lamar University students graduate with?
A median $21,250 in federal loans among completers, or 43% of the $49,652 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Lamar University students graduate?
37% finish their degree — 63% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $37,464 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $101,254 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Lamar University expensive compared with other Texas colleges?
Its $9,366 net price runs $9,993 below the $19,359 median across the 213 Texas colleges we profile, and $39,972 less across the full degree.