Public
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Beaumont, Texas
85.7% Acceptance Rate
Lamar University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
85.7%Acceptance Rate
3.4Avg GPA
1040Avg SAT
21Avg ACT
$21,626Annual Cost
$49,652Grad Salary
43.8%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
85.7%
Avg GPA
3.4
Avg SAT
1040
Avg ACT
21
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
910–1130
ACT Middle 50%
18–24
Avg Net Price
$11,429
Need-Based Aid
43.8% receive Pell
Lamar University is a public research university in Texas known for its commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and regional service. Offering a diverse range of programs, the university provides a supportive environment that encourages hands-on learning, research, and professional development.
Lamar University Acceptance Rate
Lamar University maintains an inclusive admission policy. With an acceptance rate of 85.7%, the institution prioritizes accessibility and opportunity for all qualified students.
Admissions Guidelines
- Inclusive Enrollment: Emphasis is placed on meeting basic eligibility and high school completion.
- Launchpad Policy: Ideal for students looking to build a GPA for future transfer or career certification.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 85.7% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.40 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.20 – 3.39
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.95
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Lamar University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Lamar University is 3.4. Admission is competitive, but not extremely selective.
A mix of A's and B's is acceptable, and taking AP/IB courses helps.
Note: This is an unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale. Students with AP or IB courses will typically have a weighted GPA of 3.60-3.80 for this same academic profile.If your GPA is between 3.10 and 3.4, you should aim for a high SAT or ACT score.
Lamar University GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Admissions at Lamar University utilize a Holistic Review process. With an average admitted GPA of 3.4, the following table illustrates how your specific academic profile aligns with institutional expectations.
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.40 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.20 – 3.39
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.00 – 3.19
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.99
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Expert Insight: 2026 Evaluation Metrics
- Public university in Beaumont, TX, part of the Texas State University System; $25 non-refundable application fee (waived for concurrently-enrolled high schoolers until they apply as standalone first-time-in-college students post-graduation).
- Fall 2026 application deadline is July 28 with a document deadline of August 4 - a relatively late cutoff compared to many peer Texas publics, useful for a family finalizing decisions later than typical.
- Application fee waivers are granted based on College Board, ACT, or NACAC fee-waiver documentation, plus additional case-by-case needs-based waivers available directly through Admissions.
- Rejected freshman applicants have a formal, named appeals process - worth pursuing for a borderline-denied student rather than assuming a denial is final.
- The Rigor Metric: At Lamar University, a slightly lower GPA (e.g., 3.8) in a transcript featuring multiple AP or IB courses is often prioritized over a 4.0 in a standard curriculum.
- The Upward Trend: If your early high school grades were lower, an upward trajectory in 11th and 12th grade demonstrates Academic Resilience.
Data Source: Verified via IPEDS and latest Common Data Set (CDS). Reviewed by our academic board led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Lamar University
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Lamar University's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Lamar University Test Requirements
In this competitive environment, standardized scores are no longer elective; they serve as a critical standardized benchmark to validate high school GPA and course rigor. Applicants should aim for scores within or above the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class to remain viable in the Holistic Review process. At institutions that remain test-optional, submitting a high-percentile score is still the primary strategy for securing merit-based scholarships and distinguishing one's profile in a high-volume applicant pool.
Can I Get Into Lamar University Without SAT or ACT?
Lamar University considers admission test scores (SAT/ACT) during the application process but does not require them. Although it is not strictly a requirement, the test scores are considered for admission decisions. Hence, it is advisable to prepare well for the test and submit the best scores. Normally, students may appear in the test 2 to 3 times to improve their scores.
Lamar University Average SAT Score: 1040
The average SAT score of the admitted students at Lamar University is 1040 on the 1600 SAT scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1040 — Accessible
This score makes it an easy target for SAT test scores. You need to put average efforts to score 1040 on the SAT.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1130 SAT or 24 ACT) to stand out. If your scores are below average, consider retaking the test. Lamar University allows Score Choice for the SAT and Superscoring for the ACT, giving you flexibility to submit your best scores.
If your score is below 910, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Lamar University. Retaking the test multiple times is completely normal — most competitive applicants take the SAT two or three times to achieve their best score. There is no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 495 | 440 | 550 |
| SAT Reading | 525 | 470 | 580 |
| SAT Composite | 1040 | 910 | 1130 |
It means that if you have scored less than 910 then you are below most of the admitted students at Lamar University and your chances of admission are very few. But if you have scored 1130 or more, your chances of admission are higher. 25th percentile means that only 25% of the admitted students have fewer scores than this score. 75th percentile marks the score of the upper 25% of the students.
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1050
Can I get into Lamar University with a 1150 SAT?
With a 1150 SAT Score, your chances of admission at Lamar University are good but the admission staff at Lamar University tests your all-around personality and your academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission. You need to show better performance in all areas. An equally high GPA, taking IB or AP Courses and your role in leadership activities will increase your chances of admission. However, if you equally compete well in all other areas, your chances of admission are high.
Lamar University ACT Requirements
The average ACT Score at Lamar University is 21.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 21 — Less Competitive
This score makes Lamar University less competitive for ACT scores. You need to put average efforts to score 21 on the ACT.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 21 | 17 | 24 |
| ACT English | 20 | 16 | 24 |
| ACT Composite | 21 | 18 | 24 |
Can I get into Lamar University with a 24 ACT?
A 24 ACT places you at the 75th percentile of admitted students at Lamar University — meaning you score higher than 75% of students who were accepted. This is a strong position, but the ACT is just one dimension of your application. Admissions officers at Lamar University use the ACT as a benchmark to validate your academic readiness, not as a standalone admission ticket.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT measures four distinct subject areas — English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science — each scored on a 1–36 scale. If one of your section scores is significantly lower than the others, admissions staff will notice the imbalance. For example, a weak ACT Science score at a STEM-focused institution carries more weight than the same weakness at a liberal arts college. It is worth reviewing your section-level scores and addressing any outliers before applying.
One important advantage the ACT has over the SAT is that Lamar University — like most US universities — accepts Superscoring for the ACT, meaning they take your highest section scores across multiple test attempts and combine them into a new composite. If you have taken the ACT more than once, confirm whether Lamar University uses Superscoring, as this could meaningfully improve your effective composite beyond what any single sitting shows.
Beyond your score, what ultimately determines admission at this level is the strength of your overall profile. Your unweighted GPA, course rigor (AP, IB, or dual enrollment), extracurricular depth, letters of recommendation, and personal essays all carry significant weight. A 24 ACT gets your application through the first filter — but your essays and activities are what move it forward from there.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Lamar University
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Lamar University is accessible to students who show core competency. The focus should be on proving readiness for college-level work and securing financial aid.
Use the automatic dual-credit admission pathway for students with 18+ college credit hours and a 2.0 GPA - including Early College High School students specifically
Lamar explicitly grants automatic admission to students who have completed 18 college credit hours with a 2.0 cumulative college GPA at time of application - and this explicitly includes students attending Early College High Schools, not just traditional dual-credit students. A Texas family with a student heavily invested in dual-credit/Early College coursework should calculate hours and GPA against this exact 18-hour/2.0 threshold specifically, since clearing it bypasses the class-rank-based review entirely regardless of high school GPA or rank standing.
Know your exact review pathway based on class rank - top 50% is automatic, bottom 50% (and all homeschoolers/non-ranking schools) triggers transcript review
Lamar's freshman admission splits cleanly: students in the upper 50% of their graduating class are automatically admissible, while students in the lower 50%, students at non-ranking high schools, AND all homeschooled students undergo individualized transcript review and assessment instead. A homeschooled student's family should understand they're automatically in the review category regardless of how strong their academic record actually is - this isn't a penalty, but it does mean a homeschool applicant should prepare a more complete supporting record (course descriptions, outside assessments) than a top-50%-ranked traditional applicant would need.
Consider Academic Fresh Start specifically for Texas-resident adult students with old, damaging college credit on record
Lamar's Academic Fresh Start policy lets a Texas resident applicant petition to have ALL academic credits, grades, or coursework from 10+ years prior excluded entirely from both the admission decision and GPA calculation - but critically, the applicant also receives ZERO credit for any of that older coursework, even courses passed. A returning adult student with a rough academic record from a decade-plus ago should weigh this trade-off carefully: Fresh Start clears the slate for admission purposes but also forfeits any credit-hour progress from those old courses, meaning some students are better off NOT invoking it if enough of that old credit was actually useful.
Confirm freshman residency hall requirements and exemptions BEFORE assuming a commuter plan is automatically allowed
Lamar's Board of Regents policy requires ALL full-time students with fewer than 24 earned credit hours to live in a university residence hall - commuting is not a default option for new freshmen. Exemptions exist specifically for students living within 60 miles of campus with a parent/guardian/adult relative, or students who've already earned 30+ credit hours post-high-school. A family planning for their student to commute from home should confirm BOTH the 60-mile radius AND the relationship-to-host qualifications apply to their specific situation before assuming commuting is simply allowed by default.
Expert Insight:
Lamar's relatively accessible general admission profile (commonly cited GPA around 3.4, acceptance rates suggesting "lightly competitive" status) can obscure that its residency requirement is a genuine, board-mandated COST factor most families don't budget for upfront - a new freshman under 24 credit hours who doesn't qualify for an exemption faces mandatory on-campus housing costs regardless of their preference or financial planning. This is a structural, non-negotiable policy (absent a qualifying exemption), not a recommendation.
Lamar University Profile
Full Name
Lamar University
City
Beaumont
State
Texas
ZIP Code
77705
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a Lamar University Degree Worth It?
Getting into Lamar University can be a great opportunity for many students. It is a prestigious institution known for its strong programs. However, whether it is worth it depends on your personal and academic goals, as well as your financial situation. Lamar University offers a rigorous academic environment and access to cutting-edge research, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. It's important to consider factors such as cost, location, and specific academic programs when making this decision.
Please note that the average household income of the admitted students at Lamar University is $53,500 and the graduate unemployment rate is 4.2%.
How much does a degree from Lamar University Cost?
The average annual cost of the degree at Lamar University is $21,626. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at Lamar University is $11,429.
43.8% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 41.2 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to Lamar University and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.
At Lamar University, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist Lamar University as your choice in the form.
How much does a Lamar University Graduate earn?
The average annual salary of the graduate after 4–6 years of graduation is $49,652. An average Lamar University graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4–6 years after graduation).
The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is $40,595.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Lamar University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faulkner University | Montgomery, AL | 1016 | 20 |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | 1015 | 20 |
| Central Baptist College | Conway, AR | 1022 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton | Morrilton, AR | 1020 | 20 |
| Williams Baptist University | Walnut Ridge, AR | 1018 | 19 |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | Denver, CO | 1014 | 20 |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | Pueblo, CO | 1005 | 22 |
| Trinity Baptist College | Jacksonville, FL | 1007 | 20 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | Tifton, GA | 994 | 19 |
| College of Coastal Georgia | Brunswick, GA | 1001 | 18 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Lamar University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion Military Institute | Marion, AL | 1043 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 1049 | 21 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia, AR | 1050 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith, AR | 1050 | 21 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Lamar University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | 1090 | 21 |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Troy University | Troy, AL | 1086 | 22 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | 1095 | 22 |
Degree Programs at Lamar University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Full list of all degree programs offered by Lamar University →
Frequently Asked Questions About Lamar University Admissions
Graduates of this university typically earn a lower salary, $49,652 annually, especially in non-technical fields.
The tuition fee at this university is relatively low, around $21,626 per year, making it more affordable for many students.
43.8% of students receive a Pell Grant at this institution. Your chances of need-based aid are moderate and depend primarily on your household income. Filing FAFSA early significantly improves your chances of receiving the maximum available grant amount.
The acceptance rate of Lamar University is 85.7% which is relatively high, above 20%, making it somewhat easier to gain admission compared to other top-tier universities.
The average GPA of admitted students is 3.4. This reflects the competitive academic profile expected from applicants.
While there is no single cutoff that guarantees a rejection, admission staff uses your GPA to determine if you are a best fit. If you have at least a 3.1, you are in the standard pool. If you are below a 3.1, we need to focus on your personal essay and letters of recommendation to explain the context behind your grades.
If your GPA is 3 or less, it may make admission difficult. However, your chances may improve if you have strong test scores, extracurricular activities, and essays. But this does not mean that you must not apply, or you do not have any chances. With additional AP courses, you can increase your chances even with this GPA.
While the average GPA of admitted students is 3.4, applicants with lower GPAs can still be considered if they have strong test scores, extracurriculars, and compelling personal essays that demonstrate resilience and potential.
Admission to Lamar University is based on SAT, and a strong SAT score is essential. Aim for scores above 1040 for the best chances, although the overall application strength also matters. Your SAT must be in the range of 910–1130.
Yes, many students successfully transfer each year. Be prepared with your academic transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement to make your application competitive.
To improve your chances, focus on excelling academically, building a strong extracurricular profile, and submitting standout essays. High SAT/ACT scores are also crucial for competitive admissions.