Finance at Lamar University

Beaumont, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Finance and Financial Management Services
66 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
67
Optimistic
66
Base Case
71
Pessimistic
Earnings $36,325/yr (-34% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (55% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (622,100 openings/yr)
ROI 21.8x earnings multiple (10.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #335 of 431 Finance and Financial Management Services programs

Program Analysis

The earnings data for this finance program might look different than what you'd expect for the field nationally, largely influenced by Lamar's location. Situated in the heart of the Gulf Coast's industrial corridor, the regional economy heavily shapes the available financial careers. You'll likely find opportunities in financial analysis, credit management for local and regional banks, or financial oversight supporting the extensive petrochemical, energy, and shipping sectors. These roles, while stable and critical to the local economy, often don't command the high salaries seen in major financial hubs like Houston, Dallas, or Wall Street, where high-finance roles dominate. Your career here will focus more on operational finance for industrial firms or small-to-medium business banking, rather than high-stakes investment banking. To maximize your potential, consider leveraging the program's strong regional connections for internships and networking, and actively explore opportunities with larger companies outside the immediate Beaumont area if a national salary benchmark is your primary goal.

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Finance graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $795K $758K $661K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 22.9x 21.8x 19.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 10.7x 10.2x 8.9x
Probability of Field Employment 69% 61% 44%
DegreeOutlook Score 67 66 71

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$34,760
Out-of-state: $73,928 (10.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$45,716
-32% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,795
6.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$74,494
105% growth from Year 1

About Lamar University

With 86% of applicants admitted, Lamar University prioritizes broad access, enrolling 7,945 students in Beaumont, TX. With 44% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Lamar University →

Top Career Paths

Chief executives $206,420/yr
Financial managers $161,700/yr
Financial risk specialists $106,000/yr
View all 20 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Finance at Other Schools

Other Majors at Lamar University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Finance at Lamar University?
This program scores 66/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Finance programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Finance careers?
With 55% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $661,053 in decade earnings vs $794,702 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Finance from Lamar University?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →