Lone Star College System is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in The Woodlands, Texas. It enrolls 45,188 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
56/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes19
Value60
Affordability40
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for Lone Star College System.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Lone Star College System isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $11,252 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$11,252
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
23%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
7%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$3,330
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$9,390
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,756
Books & Supplies
$2,550
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,084
Total Cost of Attendance
$15,521
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$10,657
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,515
$48,001 – $75,000
$11,128
$75,001 – $110,000
$13,120
Over $110,000
$14,572
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,75010%percentile
$3,15225%percentile
$8,600Medianpercentile
$9,50075%percentile
$18,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $6,000
↓ $2,600
No Pell $5,250
↓ $3,350
Dependent students $4,749
↓ $3,851
Independent students $7,654
↓ $946
Female students $5,500
↓ $3,100
Male students $5,250
↓ $3,350
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,250, less than completers ($8,600), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
13% of full-time students who enrolled at Lone Star College System graduate within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
13%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
—
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Lone Star College System earn a median of $42,466 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$42,466
Earning > $25K
66%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$36,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$50,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$38,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$44,100
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$51,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,800, about 27% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
16.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 66% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Lone Star College System is home to 45,188 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 51% are first-generation college students, 64% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
45,188
Part-Time
64%
First-Generation
51%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 46.2%20,886
White 21.4%9,670
Black 14.9%6,751
Asian 6.4%2,883
International 4.5%2,042
Other 3.7%1,681
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Lone Star College System. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityThe Woodlands, Texas
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
19%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Lone Star College System offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
80 distinct programs across
24 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Lone Star College System is 22:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
22:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$4,147
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$23M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$70,676
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
869 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
652
75%
$75,535
Associate Professors
117
13%
$58,930
Assistant Professors
52
6%
$57,680
Instructors
6
1%
$37,842
No Rank
42
5%
$55,850
Pros & Cons of Lone Star College System
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Lone Star College System tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Wide variety of programs and student life
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Large institutional setting can feel impersonal
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Lone Star College System is a fit for
working adults or students needing part-time study options; students who want a large campus with breadth and variety.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lone Star College System
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Lone Star College System.
How much does Lone Star College System cost?
The average net price after aid at Lone Star College System is $11,252 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Lone Star College System worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $42,466 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $11,252 per year. That's roughly 3.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Lone Star College System known for?
Lone Star College System is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Business, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Lone Star College System graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Lone Star College System are $42,466, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Lone Star College System accredited?
Yes. Lone Star College System is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Lone Star College System?
Lone Star College System enrolls 45,188 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Lone Star College System?
Lone Star College System graduates 13% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Lone Star College System a public or private college?
Lone Star College System is a Public institution.
Where is Lone Star College System located?
Lone Star College System is located in The Woodlands, Texas.
What programs does Lone Star College System offer?
Lone Star College System offers 80 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Business, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Lone Star College System?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Lone Star College System is 22:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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