Alvin Community College vs Lamar State Port Arthur: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs in the Region 14. Alvin Community College lists $3,740 less in out-of-state tuition; Alvin Community College graduates 4 points more of its students.
Which one is right for you?
Neither school is better in the abstract — they are better for different athletes. These are the differences big enough to actually decide on.
Lean Alvin Community College if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Alvin Community College graduates 4 percentage points more of its students than Lamar State Port Arthur.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Alvin Community College graduates earn about $8,642 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Alvin Community College is $8,731 lower than at Lamar State Port Arthur.
Lean Lamar State Port Arthur if…
- You would be in-state: Lamar State Port Arthur is $1,288 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Alvin Community College.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price from IPEDS. Almost nobody pays it — athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off the top — but the gap between two schools is a fair read on the gap between two offers.
| Measure | Alvin Community College | Lamar State Port Arthur |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $3,058 | $1,770 — Lamar State Port Arthur leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $4,330 — Alvin Community College leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $8,070 |
What you leave with
Federal College Scorecard figures for all students at the institution, not softball players specifically. Read them as a signal about the degree, not about the program.
| Measure | Alvin Community College | Lamar State Port Arthur |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 34% — Alvin Community College leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 30% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $45,762/yr — Alvin Community College leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $37,120/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $4,519 — Alvin Community College leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $13,250 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 10% — Alvin Community College leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 36% |
Getting in, and what you'd walk into
Admissions and size. A coach can support your file, but at most schools they cannot admit you — the academic profile below is the bar you still have to clear.
| Measure | Alvin Community College | Lamar State Port Arthur |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 5,830 | 3,802 |
| Where it is | Alvin, TX | Port Arthur, TX |
The softball program itself
Division and conference set the ceiling; the postseason record and staff tell you what the program has actually done with it.
| Measure | Alvin Community College | Lamar State Port Arthur |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Jerri Torres-Farmer | Brittany Baker |
How you actually get in front of them
Camps and questionnaires are the two channels a recruit controls. Where a program runs its own camp, that camp is usually the shortest path to being evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
| Measure | Alvin Community College | Lamar State Port Arthur |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | — |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at JUCO (NJCAA & community colleges), so the scholarship rules are identical: varies by njcaa division. Scholarship availability at junior colleges varies by NJCAA division — some can offer full athletic scholarships, some offer tuition-level aid, and NJCAA Division III offers no athletic aid.
What to do about it this week
Questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit one at any age. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Alvin Community College
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Lamar State Port Arthur
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Alvin Community College vs Lamar State Port Arthur: common questions
- Which school graduates more of its students, Alvin Community College or Lamar State Port Arthur?
- Alvin Community College, at 34% against 30% at Lamar State Port Arthur (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Alvin Community College and Lamar State Port Arthur offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at JUCO (NJCAA & community colleges): varies by njcaa division. Scholarship availability at junior colleges varies by NJCAA division — some can offer full athletic scholarships, some offer tuition-level aid, and NJCAA Division III offers no athletic aid.
- How do I contact the coaches at Alvin Community College and Lamar State Port Arthur?
- Both programs run a recruiting questionnaire, and that is the right first move — it is exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit it at any age. Fill out both, then follow with an email to each staff.
Cost, graduation and enrollment figures from IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2023-24). Earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard. Postseason results from the NCAA Division I softball tournament records, 2021-2026. Rankings from NCAA.com and U.S. News & World Report. Figures describe the institution, not the softball roster.
We work hard to keep all data for Alvin Community College and Lamar State Port Arthur accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
Track both programs, log every coach you contact, and see where you actually stand against each one's recruiting profile.
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