Head-to-head comparison
Lamar University vs Schreiner University: which has better ROI?
Option A Beaumont, TX
Lamar University
- Net price / year
- $9,366
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,652
- Payback
- 29 yrs
Option B Kerrville, TX
Schreiner University
- Net price / year
- $21,507
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,228
- Payback
- 22.2 yrs
Schreiner University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $86,028 in 22.2 years versus 29 years at Lamar University, on median earnings of $52,228 vs $49,652 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lamar University | Schreiner University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,366 | $21,507 |
| Total net cost | $37,464 | $86,028 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,652 | $52,228 |
| Median debt | $21,250 | $23,250 |
| Payback | 29 yrs | 22.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$11,624 | -$8,668 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lamar University or Schreiner University?
Lamar University, at $9,366 a year after aid versus $21,507 — a gap of $12,141 a year, or $48,564 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Lamar University or Schreiner University graduates earn more?
Schreiner University graduates report a median $52,228 ten years after entry, $2,576 more than the $49,652 at Lamar University. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Lamar University or Schreiner University?
Lamar University: its completers carry a median $21,250 in federal loans versus $23,250 at Schreiner University, a difference of $2,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
43% of students finish at Schreiner University, against 37% at Lamar University. 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.