(SOUTHEAST TEXAS) – Lamar Institute of Technology, Lamar State College Orange, and Lamar State College Port Arthur—known collectively as the Lamar State Colleges—are reporting a dramatic year-to-year enrollment increase, spurred by a 25 percent tuition cut that took effect last fall.
Across the three institutions, headcount enrollment increased 11 percent, from 7,369 students in Spring 2019 to 8,153 this spring. Over the same period, student contact hours grew from 1.47 million to 1.62 million, an increase of 10 percent.
“The tuition cut has encouraged students to enroll earlier than planned, take extra classes, and work fewer hours,” said Brian McCall, chancellor of the Texas State University System. “The enrollment growth we’ve seen across the region validates the legislature’s decision to invest in our institutions and students.”
Last year, the Texas Legislature approved $17.3 million in new funding to narrow the tuition gap between the Lamar State Colleges and Texas community colleges. The three state colleges—unlike community colleges—do not receive local tax revenue and, as a result, have charged comparatively higher tuition to make up the difference.
“The Lamar State Colleges are just beginning to see the impact of these tuition cuts,” said Chancellor McCall. “We fully expect additional growth next fall as more people across Southeast Texas learn about the great value that our institutions provide.”
The Texas State University System is Texas’ first university system, consisting of seven institutions serving more than 86,000 students.