Head-to-head comparison
Lamar University vs Wayland Baptist 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 Plainview, TX
Wayland Baptist University
- Net price / year
- $20,590
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,838
- Payback
- 23.7 yrs
Wayland Baptist University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $82,360 in 23.7 years versus 29 years at Lamar University, on median earnings of $51,838 vs $49,652 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lamar University | Wayland Baptist University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,366 | $20,590 |
| Total net cost | $37,464 | $82,360 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,652 | $51,838 |
| Median debt | $21,250 | $23,106 |
| Payback | 29 yrs | 23.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$11,624 | -$12,800 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lamar University or Wayland Baptist University?
Lamar University, at $9,366 a year after aid versus $20,590 — a gap of $11,224 a year, or $44,896 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 Wayland Baptist University graduates earn more?
Wayland Baptist University graduates report a median $51,838 ten years after entry, $2,186 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 Wayland Baptist University?
Lamar University: its completers carry a median $21,250 in federal loans versus $23,106 at Wayland Baptist University, a difference of $1,856. 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?
37% of students finish at Lamar University, against 19% at Wayland Baptist 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.