Head-to-head comparison
Lamar University vs West Texas A & M 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 Canyon, TX
West Texas A & M University
- Net price / year
- $19,487
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,741
- Payback
- 32.7 yrs
Lamar University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $37,464 in 29 years versus 32.7 years at West Texas A & M University, on median earnings of $49,652 vs $50,741 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lamar University | West Texas A & M University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,366 | $19,487 |
| Total net cost | $37,464 | $77,948 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,652 | $50,741 |
| Median debt | $21,250 | $19,500 |
| Payback | 29 yrs | 32.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$11,624 | -$30,328 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lamar University or West Texas A & M University?
Lamar University, at $9,366 a year after aid versus $19,487 — a gap of $10,121 a year, or $40,484 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 West Texas A & M University graduates earn more?
West Texas A & M University graduates report a median $50,741 ten years after entry, $1,089 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 West Texas A & M University?
West Texas A & M University: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $21,250 at Lamar University, a difference of $1,750. 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?
55% of students finish at West Texas A & M 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.