Career Training Path › Texas › Lamar State College-Port Arthur
Lamar State College-Port Arthur
Port Arthur, Texas · Public community college
Address: 1500 Proctor St, Port Arthur, TX 77640 · Phone: (409) 984-6342 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Lamar State College-Port Arthur is a public trade school in Port Arthur, Texas offering LPN/LVN, cosmetology, and welding programs, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Lamar State College-Port Arthur has a 45.0% completion rate, below the Texas average of 63.5%, with median graduate debt of $13,250 and median earnings of $37,120 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Lamar State College-Port Arthur; the school participates in Title IV federal financial aid, and about 20.5% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $48,910 | $62,240 | $68,410 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $23,580 | $30,680 | $47,180 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $38,380 | $53,340 | $64,770 |
| HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $38,100 | $57,760 | $69,860 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $29,360 | $48,310 | $62,270 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $31,380 | $56,080 | $71,870 |
| Surgical technologists | $39,950 | $65,220 | $80,790 |
| Medical records specialists | $34,440 | $48,860 | $63,970 |
| Nursing assistants | $30,620 | $37,500 | $43,070 |
| Pharmacy technicians | $35,920 | $45,900 | $48,960 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Texas (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 77 | $35,034 | $30,554 | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 37 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 17 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 15 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 14 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 12 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 10 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Associate degree | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 5 | $35,034 | $30,554 | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Lamar State College-Port Arthur is a public trade and career school located in Port Arthur, Texas. The campus is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and students here can use federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, since the school participates in Title IV programs. Its most-awarded programs are LPN/LVN programs, cosmetology, and welding, among 16 program families offered including HVAC, auto mechanics, culinary, surgical technology, medical billing and coding, CNA classes, and pharmacy technician training.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 45.0%, which is below the Texas state average of 63.5%. Graduates carry a median debt of $13,250, and median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $37,120. About 20.5% of students receive Pell Grants. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.
This campus, with 1,508 undergraduates and 218 trade completers in a small-city setting, offers a mix of shorter certificate programs and longer technical tracks across health, cosmetology, and skilled-trade fields. Career changers and adult students may find the range of program lengths useful, though specific program duration should be confirmed directly with the school. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status and program-level outcomes using the College Scorecard or by contacting the school directly.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Lamar State College-Port Arthur offers 16 program families, with LPN/LVN programs, cosmetology, and welding as the top programs by completions, alongside HVAC, auto mechanics, culinary, surgical tech, medical billing and coding, CNA classes, and pharmacy tech.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and its accreditation status is listed as accredited.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal student aid programs, so FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 45.0%, which is below the Texas state average of 63.5%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt for graduates is reported at $13,250.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $37,120.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (409) 984-6342 or visit its website for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Lamar State College-Port Arthur is a public institution, which often means lower published tuition rates for state residents compared to for-profit schools, though this should be confirmed directly.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Specific program lengths are not reported in the data provided; contact the school directly to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation and review federal outcome data through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?226116.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The data does not specify program formats or scheduling for adult learners, so this cannot be confirmed from federal data alone; contact the school to ask about program flexibility.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing and certification requirements are not reported in the data provided; contact the school directly for program-specific credentialing information.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Lamar State College-Port Arthur at (409) 984-6342 or through its website at https://www.lamarpa.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data on nearby schools is not included in this listing; use the College Scorecard link to compare outcomes across institutions.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.