Lamar University vs University of Houston

Lamar University vs University of Houston

Lamar University is a public, well-established university in the city of Beaumont in the state of Texas. The university’s main campus is located in an urban area within the southeastern region of the state. The university is midsize with around 17,850 students, out of which many are from diverse and regional backgrounds. The admissions competitiveness is low, with an acceptance rate of 85%. The areas of specialization are in Business, Health Professions, Engineering, Liberal Arts, and Interdisciplinary Studies. The six-year graduation rate is around 35%, and the graduates of Lamar University earn around INR 38,00,000 (~USD 45,500) median salary ten years after graduation.

University of Houston is an established public university in Texas in the southeastern part of the city of Houston. The university is large with a total of around 45,600 students. The admissions are fairly competitive, with a rough acceptance rate of 70%, but some of the engineering and science majors are more selective. Some common majors are Business, Engineering, Psychology, Natural Sciences, and Communication. The six-year graduation rate is around 54%, and the graduates of University of Houston continue to earn approximately INR 49,00,000 (~USD 59,000) median salary after ten years.

Overview Comparison
Lamar UniversityUniversity of Houston
Collegedunia Score4.1 Out of 104.8 Out of 10
ranking (overall)# 395 US News 2024
# 401 Times Higher Education 2026
# 556 QS World University 2026
# 267 Center for World University Rankings 2025
Subject Strength# 183 for Engineering by US News 2024
# 72 for Engineering by US News 2025
# 401 for Medicine by QS World University 2025
# 63 for Law by US News 2025
ProgramsUG Programs -57
PG Programs -29
UG Programs -120
PG Programs -61
Doctorate Programs -7
Acceptance Rate85.0 %66.0 %
Exam ScoreIELTS-6.5
SAT-950
TOEFL-79
IELTS-6.5
SAT-1110
TOEFL-79
Cost to StudyAverage Tuition Fees   11367
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  10349
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 20272 Per Year
Average Tuition Fees   25991
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  25470
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 26559 Per Year
placement (average package)

Some of the majors and the average salary are as follows:

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services: $50,200

Health Professions and Related Programs: $60,400

Engineering: $77,900

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and H:umanities: $47,800


Some of the programs and the average salary are as follows:

Executive MBA: $192,000

MBA: $130,000

Masters in Science: $115,000

BBA: $84,000

Bachelor of Science: $68,000

Bachelor of Arts: $66,000 


application requirements

Submit official transcripts

Submit entrance test scores

Submit English language proficiency scores

Check program specific requirements

Submit official transcripts 

Submit English language scores

Check program specific requirements

CollegeDunia Reviews7.7/10 Read 3 reviews7.5/10 Read 15 reviews

Top Courses Comparison

Top Courses Comparison

exam scoresDuolingo - 105/160IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 79/120Duolingo - 125/160GMAT - 610/800GRE - 305/340IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 70/90TOEFL - 100/120
documents required#Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose#Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose
application datesSep 1, 2025 (Priority Application Deadline For Spring Intake)
Dec 1, 2025 (Final Application Deadline For Spring Intake)
Jan 15, 2026 (Priority Application Deadline For Summer Intake)
Apr 15, 2026 (Final Application Deadline For Summer Intake)
Apr 15, 2026 (Priority Application Deadline For Fall Intake)
Jul 1, 2026 (Final Application Deadline For Fall Intake)
Apr 15, 2025 (Fee Depost deadline for Fall 2025 Intake)
Apr 15, 2025 (Fee Depost deadline for Fall 2026 Intake)
Oct 15, 2025 (Fee Depost deadline for Spring 2026 Intake)
Oct 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Spring 2026 Intake)
Mar 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Fall 2025 Intake)
Oct 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Spring 2026 Intake)
Mar 1, 2026 (Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake)
General Facts Comparison
General FactsLamar UniversityUniversity of Houston
Type of UniversityUniversity
University
Established1923
1927
Student:Faculty Ratio17:1
21:1
Male:Female42% Male, 58% Female50% Male, 50% Female
Location Facts

The Lamar University campus is located off of Martin Luther King Boulevard, near U.S. Highway 69, in the southeast part of Beaumont, Texas.


UH is in southeast Houston, with an official address of 4800 Calhoun Road. The University of Houston's campus framework has identified the following five core districts: the Central District, the Arts District, the Professional District, the Residential District, and the Athletics District.


Library

 The library holds extensive physical and digital collections, including 395,003 physical books, 99,548 e-books, and 142 digital databases, and provides access to current journal content from 48,851 journals. 


The University of Houston libraries include:

M.D. Anderson Library (the main library),
William R. Jenkins Architecture and Art Library,
O’Quinn Law Center Library,
Music Library,
Health Sciences Library, and

Hospitality Industry Archives

These libraries constitute a premier research facility with large collections in both print and electronic formats. These collections consist of over 3.2 million volumes, 170,000 journals, as well as access to manuscripts, maps, electronic datasets and tens of thousands of digitized images of unique items.


Campus Life

 Facilities include the 10,080 seat Montagne Center, the eight-story Mary and John Gray Library and the 16,000 seat Provost Umphrey Stadium. Cardinal Village is the university's community of apartment-style dormitories, part of Lamar University's investment in student life on campus. The 129,550-square-foot Sheila Umphrey recreational center includes a 13,000 sq ft cardiovascular room, a one-tenth-mile walking/jogging track, a 43-foot (13 m) climbing wall, basketball, indoor floor hockey/soccer arena, volleyball, badminton courts, and racquetball courts. The center also sports a wellness and fitness center, health food café and juice bar. The lounge areas include pool tables, putting green, air hockey, foosball, video games and large screen TV. The center is home to the Recreational Sports Office, which organizes and hosts intramural sports leagues and sport clubs teams such as volleyball, basketball, flag football, cricket, badminton, indoor soccer, pool, ultimate frisbee, and tennis. The Setzer Student Center, known colloquially "The SET", hosts social and cultural activities throughout the year and is the hub for campus student organizations. The lounge areas, Mirabeau's Café and the Cardinal's Nest eatery provide students with a place to socialize and relax. The 25,000-square-foot dining hall is set on a food court-style floor plan that offers a variety of seating areas from barstools to booths. Dining options range from a salad bar, grill and central bakery to pizza, stir fry, Mexican food, pasta, deli and soup stations. Lamar competes in the Southland Conference in NCAA Division I athletics for all of its varsity sports and at the NCAA Division I (FCS) subdivision level in football. 


The University of Houston is notable for its diverse student body, and U.S. News & World Report ranks the university as the second-most ethnically diverse research university in the United States. UH has several on campus dormitories: Moody Towers, The Quad, Cougar Village I & II, Cougar Place, University Lofts, Bayou Oaks, Cullen Oaks, and Cambridge Oaks. The university has an intercollegiate sports program that competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The NCAA's Division I sports at the University of Houston include baseball, basketball, cross country, American football, golf, and track and field for men; basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, and track and field for women. The campus life offers the vibe of a small community set amongst the urban offerings of Houston. The on-campus offerings include restaurants, art exhibits, activity centers, live performances and athletic events which make our university much more than a place to learn — it's a place to thrive.


Hostel#Off campus (with family) - $4300
#Off campus (not with family) - $7232
#On campus - $8740
#Off campus (not with family) - $11067
#Off campus (with family) - $5508
#On campus - $9984
Famous Alumni

John Alexander – painter
Kelly Asbury – film director, screenwriter, voice actor, children's book author and illustrator, non-fition author
Bruce Aven – retired Major League Baseball player
Brian Babin - current member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 36th congressional district from 2015–present[52]
Brian Birdwell – member of the Texas State Senate and survivor of the Pentagon attack of September 11, 2001
Ronnie Black – PGA Tour professional golfer
Jack Brooks – former Congressman, served more than 40 years in the U.S. House of Representatives
Keith Carter – photographer


Fred Couples, professional golfer

Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr., former NASA astronaut

Bonnie J. Dunbar, former NASA astronaut

Lizzo, Grammy Award-winning singer

Jim Parsons, Emmy Award-winning actor


City Life

Along with neighboring cities Port Arthur and Orange, Beaumont makes up southeast Texas' Golden Triangle, a moniker that means business. Today, Beaumont's treasures are tapped both inside and outside its city limits. Downtown offers entertainment and cultural venues that feature live music and theater, and a museum district celebrates Beaumont's people, history and love of contemporary art. Those with an ear for music will enjoy the Symphony of Southeast Texas. Live performances are regularly held at the historic Jefferson Theatre, which also shows classic movies. Art lovers can check out exhibits at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. If you've got a secure job, you should be able to make ends meet in Beaumont. The region has a lower cost of living than the average of the nation and the state of Texas.


 A good place to live, Houston is the most populated city in Texas and is the fourth most populated city in the entire United States right behind Chicago. Prized for its diversity, Houston is considered one of the best places to live in Texas due to its quality of life and welcoming atmosphere. Best known for its space exploration, energy industry, and affordable cost of living, it is no wonder why Houston has become a top destination for relocation. Plus, receiving high safety ratings, Houston is attracting many families, young couples, and retirees to the area.  With a cost of living that is lower than other large cities, Houston is noticeably less expensive than living in San Francisco or living in New York City. The cost of living in Houston is also 5% less than living in Dallas and 19% less than living in Austin. To live comfortably in Houston, a recommended annual salary of almost $35,000 is advised to afford at least a one-bedroom apartment in the city. The median income in Houston is $52,338. Houston's booming job market is one of the many reasons the population is skyrocketing. Not only is real estate affordable but thousands of jobs are attracting young professionals to the area. The most popular industries in Houston are oil and gas, medical research, aerospace, technology, and healthcare. Some of the largest employers and businesses in the area include Walmart, Memorial Hermann Health Services, Shell Oil Company, United Airlines, Kroger, and Houston Methodist.


Weather
Comparison Notes

Lamar University vs University of Houston

Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)

Lamar University and the University of Houston are both reputable Texas universities with regional specializations and differing academic emphases. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, the University of Houston is ranked approximately 556 globally, while Lamar University is not ranked. In the wider THE rankings, Houston appears in the 401–500 range, with Lamar not listed. In the U.S. National Ranking, Houston is ranked 144, and Lamar is not ranked.

Lamar is an R2 (High Research Activity) and Opportunity College & University (OCU)—one of only 27 in the U.S. to receive both titles.

Houston is more widely recognized internationally, especially in hospitality (ranked ~35 internationally) and petroleum engineering (51–100 internationally). Lamar, though less well known internationally in subject rankings, has robust programs in clinical psychology, criminal justice, cybersecurity, and entrepreneurship.

General Information

Lamar University, founded in 1923, is a public R2/OCU institution in Beaumont, Texas with an emphasis on affordable education and employment alignment.

University of Houston, founded in 1927, is a large R1 public research university in Houston, serving an ethnically diverse student population of about 46,000.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Lamar University has a greater acceptance rate of 85% and, therefore, offers easier access to students. The University of Houston is more selective with a lower acceptance rate of 70%, indicating its moderately competitive admissions.

Research Impact & Facilities

Lamar's double R2/OCU designation emphasizes its focus on applied, high-activity research—particularly in areas of importance to Southeast Texas businesses.

Houston's R1 designation indicates its large research infrastructure, with many energy-focused research centers, along with research centers dedicated to health, law, business, and environmental studies.

Cost & Financial Aid

Both Lamar University and the University of Houston provide low tuition for international and local students. Lamar University's average fees per year are about USD 9,000, but this varies based on program and level of study. The University of Houston is a bit pricier, with average fees of about USD 11,000 per annum. Both the universities offer scholarships, grants, and financial assistance in the form of merit-based and need-based awards. Lamar has a greater emphasis on general scholarships and local support to enable students from the local community to pursue higher education, whereas Houston has a greater tendency of associating financial assistance with academic performance and research participation to facilitate students with good academic records or research ability.

Career Outcomes & Alumni Success

Lamar University graduates perform well in engineering, business, and health disciplines, with close connections to local employers throughout Texas. University of Houston boasts a bigger, more diverse pool of alumni, particularly well-represented in business, energy, healthcare, and research industries. UH typically excels in job placement and advanced degree advancement, but Lamar provides good local industry ties and real-world workforce preparation.