Alvin Community College vs Lamar State College-Port Arthur: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Alvin Community College comes closer — median earnings $45,762 against a $17,050 total, vs $37,120 at Lamar State College-Port Arthur. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alvin Community College | Lamar State College-Port Arthur |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,525 | $2,846 |
| Total net cost | $17,050 | $11,384 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,762 | $37,120 |
| Median debt | $4,519 | $13,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$69,010 | -$236,184 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Alvin Community College or Lamar State College-Port Arthur?
Lamar State College-Port Arthur, at $2,846 a year after aid versus $8,525 — a gap of $5,679 a year, or $5,666 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Alvin Community College or Lamar State College-Port Arthur graduates earn more?
Alvin Community College graduates report a median $45,762 ten years after entry, $8,642 more than the $37,120 at Lamar State College-Port Arthur. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Alvin Community College or Lamar State College-Port Arthur?
Alvin Community College: its completers carry a median $4,519 in federal loans versus $13,250 at Lamar State College-Port Arthur, a difference of $8,731. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
45% of students finish at Lamar State College-Port Arthur, against 24% at Alvin Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.