Lamar University Snapshot Card

Online master’s programs

Per credit hour

Public university ranking

Public research university

Key policies

Institution type:

Private, nonprofit

Regional accreditation:

SACSCOC

Admissions model:

Rolling — multiple starts per year

GRE/GMAT required:

Not required

Out-of-state premium:

Yes — in-state rate shown; out-of-state may differ

Notable Programmatic Accreditations

  • AACSB
  • ACBSP
  • CCNE
Written By - Bob Litt
Last Updated: June 20, 2026

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Lamar University is built for working professionals — particularly those in Texas and the Gulf Coast region — who need an affordable, accredited online master’s degree that doesn’t require leaving their job. The typical Lamar online master’s student is a mid-career teacher seeking an MEd specialization, a nurse advancing to an FNP role, or a business professional pursuing an AACSB-accredited MBA at a fraction of flagship tuition. If you value budget-friendly access and practical credentials over brand prestige, Lamar is designed for you.

Lamar University Online Master’s Programs at a Glance

Lamar University is a public university located in Beaumont, Texas, and a member of the Texas State University System. It holds regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), which is the standard accreditor for institutions across the southern United States.

Lamar currently offers approximately 15 online master’s programs spanning education, business, nursing, engineering, criminal justice, public administration, communication, and healthcare. Per-credit tuition for online graduate programs generally falls in the range of $437 per credit hour, making full program costs between roughly $14,400 and $24,000 depending on the degree.

Three qualities define Lamar’s online master’s portfolio. First, the education program lineup is unusually deep — six distinct MEd specializations, including a nationally rare Deaf Studies/Deaf Education track. Second, the College of Business holds AACSB accreditation, placing its MBA among a relatively small percentage of business programs worldwide that carry this distinction. Third, Lamar’s engineering management and industrial engineering programs occupy a niche that few affordable public universities offer fully online. For students prioritizing affordability, accessible admissions, and practical professional credentials over flagship prestige, Lamar occupies a distinct position in the Texas public university landscape.

Quick Decision Guide

This guide provides a scannable overview of who Lamar University’s online master’s programs are designed for, what they cost, and what tradeoffs you should weigh before applying.

Cost Signal

Approximately $437 per credit hour for online graduate programs. Total program costs range from roughly $14,400 (33-credit MS in Industrial Engineering) to $24,000 (55-credit MS in Speech-Language Pathology). Most 36-credit programs cost approximately $15,700. This places Lamar at the lower end of online master’s tuition nationally and competitively within the Texas public university system.

Learning Model

Most Lamar online master’s programs are asynchronous-dominant, meaning you can complete coursework on your own schedule without fixed class meeting times. Some programs — particularly the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner, MEd in Counseling and Development, and MS in Speech-Language Pathology — require clinical practicum hours or in-person components. Verify the format for your specific program of interest before applying.

Admissions Model

Most programs operate on a rolling admissions basis with Fall, Spring, and Summer start dates. Nursing and speech-language pathology programs use deadline-based admissions with more structured cohort entry. GRE and GMAT requirements are generally waived or not required across most programs, making Lamar one of the more accessible options for applicants who lack recent standardized test scores.

Flexibility

Lamar’s online programs are designed around the schedules of working professionals. Multiple start dates per year, asynchronous coursework, and part-time pacing options mean most students can maintain full-time employment while earning their degree. Programs range from 12 to 36 months depending on credit load and pacing.

Main Tradeoff

Lamar delivers strong value on cost, accessibility, and flexibility. The tradeoff is limited national brand recognition and a narrower program catalog compared to large flagships like Texas A&M University or the University of Houston. If you’re optimizing for affordability and practical credentials in education, business, or engineering technology, Lamar’s value proposition is strong. If you need elite institutional prestige or highly specialized STEM research programs, you should look elsewhere.

What Lamar University Is Known For

Lamar University doesn’t compete on the same playing field as Texas’s flagship research universities, and it doesn’t try to. Its reputation in online graduate education rests on a specific set of strengths that serve a well-defined audience.

The College of Business holds AACSB accreditation — a distinction shared by fewer than 6% of business schools worldwide. For students considering an online MBA, this accreditation matters because many employers and credentialing bodies view AACSB programs as a meaningful quality signal. Lamar’s MBA accomplishes this at a tuition rate that undercuts the vast majority of AACSB-accredited competitors.

In education, Lamar offers one of the broadest MEd portfolios among Texas public universities’ online programs. Six distinct specializations — Administration, Counseling and Development, Digital Learning and Leading, Special Education, Teacher Leadership, and Deaf Studies/Deaf Education — give educators multiple advancement pathways without leaving the classroom. The Deaf Studies/Deaf Education track is particularly notable: it’s one of a small number of fully online programs in this specialization available nationally.

Lamar’s engineering programs occupy an uncommon niche in online graduate education. The Master of Engineering Management bridges engineering expertise with management skills and doesn’t require an engineering undergraduate degree, making it accessible to a broader applicant pool. The MS in Industrial Engineering adds a more traditional engineering research option to the online catalog.

The nursing programs carry CCNE accreditation, with the Family Nurse Practitioner track serving as a direct pipeline to advanced practice licensure. The MS in Speech-Language Pathology holds CAA (ASHA) accreditation, which is essential for students pursuing clinical certification.

Finally, Lamar has a long history of serving non-traditional and working-professional students. The university’s online infrastructure isn’t a recent add-on — it’s a core part of how Lamar has expanded access for students across Texas and beyond. The institution belongs to the Texas State University System, and it carries the tuition advantages that come with that membership. For students listed on the OMC top HBCU resource or seeking historically diverse institutional environments, it’s worth noting that while Lamar is not an HBCU, it has a significantly diverse student body for a Texas public university.

Online Master’s Programs by Subject

The table below presents every known online master’s program currently offered by Lamar University. Programs are grouped by subject area, and each entry includes credit hours, estimated cost, admissions model, and notable accreditations or requirements.

Use this table to compare programs side-by-side. Pay particular attention to the in-person requirements column — several healthcare and counseling programs include clinical components that may affect your scheduling and location flexibility.

ProgramDegreeSubjectCreditsTuition/CreditEst. Total CostStart DatesAdmissionsGRE Req?AccreditationIn-Person?Notes
MEd in AdministrationMEdEducation36$437$15,732Fall, Spring, SummerRollingNoNoPrincipal certification pathway
MEd in Counseling and DevelopmentMEdEducation48$437$20,976Fall, SpringRollingNoYesRequires practicum/internship
MEd in Digital Learning and LeadingMEdEducation36$437$15,732Fall, Spring, SummerRollingNoNoInstructional technology focus
MEd in Special EducationMEdEducation36$437$15,732Fall, Spring, SummerRollingNoNo
MEd in Teacher LeadershipMEdEducation36$437$15,732Fall, Spring, SummerRollingNoNoLeadership without admin track
MEd in Deaf Studies/Deaf EducationMEdEducation36$437$15,732Fall, SpringRollingNoNoRare online niche program
MBAMBABusiness36$437$15,732Fall, Spring, SummerRollingNoAACSBNoGMAT waiver available
MSN — Family Nurse PractitionerMSNNursing45$437$19,665Fall, SpringDeadlineNoCCNEYesActive RN license required
MSN — Nursing AdministrationMSNNursing36$437$15,732Fall, SpringDeadlineNoCCNENoNursing leadership focus
Master of Engineering ManagementMEMEngineering36$437$15,732Fall, Spring, SummerRollingNoNoNo engineering UG required
MS in Industrial EngineeringMSEngineering33$437$14,421Fall, SpringRollingNo
MS in Criminal JusticeMSCriminal Justice36$437$15,732Fall, Spring, SummerRollingNoNo
MS in CommunicationMSCommunication36$437$15,732Fall, SpringRollingNoNo
MPAMPAPublic Administration36$437$15,732Fall, Spring, SummerRollingNoNo
MS in Speech-Language PathologyMSHealthcare55$437$24,035FallDeadlineCAA (ASHA)YesClinical practicum required

Several patterns emerge from Lamar’s program portfolio. Education dominates in breadth, with six distinct specializations covering classroom leadership, administration, special education, digital learning, counseling, and the rare deaf education niche. Business is represented by a single but AACSB-accredited MBA — quality over quantity. Nursing offers two CCNE-accredited tracks with distinctly different career endpoints (clinical practice vs. administration). Engineering provides both a management-oriented and a technical-research option. The remaining programs in criminal justice, communication, public administration, and speech-language pathology round out a mid-size portfolio that covers the core professional degree categories without attempting to be encyclopedic.

Education is Lamar’s deepest online master’s category. The six MEd programs serve meaningfully different student profiles: the Administration track feeds principal certification pathways, Teacher Leadership serves experienced educators who want influence without leaving classroom-adjacent roles, Digital Learning and Leading targets instructional technologists, and Deaf Studies/Deaf Education fills a nationally scarce niche. Counseling and Development is the most demanding at 48 credit hours and requires in-person clinical components, so students in that track should plan for practicum logistics. All education programs use rolling admissions and do not require GRE scores.

How Lamar University Compares

Choosing an online master’s program isn’t just about whether a university meets your minimum requirements — it’s about how that university stacks up against realistic alternatives. Lamar draws comparisons most naturally to other affordable public universities with strong online presence and to large-enrollment private nonprofits that compete on accessibility and scale.

The comparison below positions Lamar against four institutions that prospective students frequently evaluate alongside it: the University of North Texas, the University of Houston, Southern New Hampshire University, and Western Governors University.

DimensionLamar UniversityUniversity of North TexasUniversity of HoustonSouthern New Hampshire UniversityWestern Governors University
Approx. Per-Credit Tuition~$437~$500–$600~$600–$900~$627~$3,800/6-month term
Online Master’s Programs (approx.)~15~30+~25+~100+~20+
Admissions SelectivityAccessible/rollingModerateModerate–selectiveOpen/rollingOpen/competency-based
Notable AccreditationsAACSB (business), CCNE (nursing), CAA (SLP)AACSB (business)AACSB (business)ACBSP (business)ACBSP (business), CCNE (nursing)
Learning FormatAsynchronous-dominantAsynchronous + some synchronousVaries by programAsynchronousCompetency-based, self-paced
Best-Known Online Program AreasEducation, MBA, Engineering TechnologyBusiness, Education, Information ScienceBusiness, Engineering, Social WorkBusiness, Education, HealthcareIT, Business, Education, Nursing

Key takeaways from this comparison:

  • Lamar’s clearest advantage is cost. At roughly $437 per credit hour, it undercuts every institution in this comparison on a per-credit basis (though WGU’s flat-rate term model can be cheaper for fast completers). Its AACSB-accredited MBA at under $16,000 total is significantly less expensive than comparable AACSB programs at UNT or UH.
  • Where Lamar falls short is program breadth. With approximately 15 online master’s programs, its catalog is substantially smaller than SNHU’s 100+ or UNT’s 30+. Students seeking niche disciplines — advanced data science, social work, information science — will likely find more options at larger institutions.
  • Admissions accessibility is comparable to SNHU and WGU, all of which maintain open or rolling admissions for most programs. UNT and UH are more selective, particularly for competitive programs in business and engineering.
  • Accreditation is a genuine Lamar strength. Holding AACSB (business), CCNE (nursing), and CAA (speech-language pathology) from a single mid-size public university is uncommon and signals program-level quality that some larger-enrollment competitors don’t match across the same spread of fields.

For students who value the competency-based, self-paced master’s degree model, WGU is the natural alternative. For those who want a traditional course-based structure at the lowest possible cost from a regionally accredited Texas public university, Lamar has few direct competitors.

Best For

Lamar University’s online master’s programs are strongest for students who fit one or more of these profiles:

  • Budget-conscious students who need an accredited master’s without heavy debt. At roughly $437 per credit hour, Lamar’s total program costs for most degrees fall between $14,400 and $16,000. Students who are financing their own education or who lack employer tuition support will find this pricing meaningfully lower than most accredited alternatives.
  • Texas residents leveraging in-state tuition advantages. Lamar’s pricing is already competitive, and Texas residents benefit from the Texas State University System’s tuition structure. Students who want to stay within the Texas public university system without paying flagship-tier tuition have a strong option here.
  • Education professionals seeking MEd specializations. With six distinct MEd tracks, Lamar serves teachers, aspiring principals, special education professionals, instructional technologists, and deaf education specialists. Educators who need a specific credential — particularly principal certification or deaf education expertise — will find programs that larger universities often don’t offer online.
  • Working professionals who need maximum scheduling flexibility. Asynchronous course delivery, rolling admissions, three start dates per year, and part-time pacing options make Lamar workable for students who cannot pause their careers. Students looking for programs that can be completed on an accelerated timeline may also find relevant options among 6-month master’s degree programs .
  • Students who prioritize accessible admissions over selectivity prestige. Most Lamar programs do not require GRE or GMAT scores and use rolling admissions. If you have a solid undergraduate record but lack standardized test scores or missed competitive application deadlines, Lamar’s admissions model works in your favor.
  • Engineering technology professionals seeking online advanced credentials. The Master of Engineering Management — which does not require an engineering undergraduate degree — and the MS in Industrial Engineering serve a niche that few affordable public universities cover online.

Not a Best Fit For

Lamar is not the right choice for every student. These profiles should explore other options:

Students seeking elite brand prestige or nationally ranked flagship credentials. Lamar is not a Tier 1 research university and does not appear in major national rankings for most program areas. If employer perception of institutional brand matters significantly to your career trajectory — especially outside the Texas/Gulf Coast region — a flagship like Texas A&M University or a nationally recognized online provider like Arizona State University will carry more weight.

Students needing highly specialized STEM research programs. Lamar’s online engineering options are professionally oriented, not research-intensive. Students who want thesis-driven master’s programs in advanced STEM fields, access to funded research labs, or doctoral-preparatory training should look at research universities with stronger graduate research infrastructure.

Students who want an extensive online student services ecosystem at scale. Large-enrollment online providers like Southern New Hampshire University or Western Governors University invest heavily in 24/7 advising, career services, and tech support scaled to massive online student populations. Lamar’s support services exist, but they operate at a different scale.

Students seeking programs in fields Lamar does not offer online. If your target field is social work, advanced data analytics, public health, information science, law, or medicine, Lamar does not have online master’s programs in these areas. Students interested in health education or occupational therapy will also need to look elsewhere.

Career changers who need strong national employer recognition outside the Texas/Gulf Coast region. Lamar’s name recognition is strongest in Southeast Texas and the broader Gulf Coast. If you’re planning a career pivot that depends on an employer in New York, Chicago, or the West Coast immediately recognizing and valuing your degree’s institution, a university with broader national name recognition may serve you better.

Not all online master’s programs at Lamar carry equal weight. These four stand out for specific, identifiable reasons — whether it’s a rare accreditation, a unique niche, or an unusually strong value proposition.

Lamar’s MBA is the program where accreditation and cost converge most impressively. AACSB accreditation places this program among a small global percentage of business schools — the same accreditation held by programs at universities charging two to four times Lamar’s tuition. At $15,732 estimated total cost with no GMAT required (waiver available for qualified applicants), this is one of the least expensive AACSB-accredited online MBAs in the country. The limitation: it’s a generalist MBA without concentrations. Students who need a specialized business track (finance, analytics, healthcare management) will need to look elsewhere — but for a general management credential with credible accreditation at a rock-bottom price, this is hard to beat.

Admissions Snapshot

Lamar University’s online master’s admissions process is designed to be straightforward, particularly for working professionals who may not have recent standardized test scores.

General requirements for most programs:

  • Completed bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions
  • Minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.5–3.0 (varies by program; some programs accept conditional admission for lower GPAs)
  • Completed graduate application
  • Application fee

GRE and GMAT policies: Most Lamar online master’s programs do not require the GRE. The MBA offers GMAT waivers for qualified applicants (typically those meeting a minimum GPA threshold or with significant professional experience). Students who are unsure whether they’ll need a standardized test for programs at other institutions may want to explore the GRE exam practice test resource.

Program-specific variations: The MSN programs (both FNP and Nursing Administration) use deadline-based admissions and require an active, unencumbered RN license. The MS in Speech-Language Pathology also uses deadline-based admissions with a Fall-only cohort start and may have prerequisite coursework requirements. The MEd in Counseling and Development may require additional application materials such as a personal statement or interview.

Application timeline: Rolling admissions programs accept applications on a continuous basis for Fall, Spring, and Summer terms. Deadline-based programs (nursing, SLP) publish specific application windows — applicants should check Lamar’s graduate admissions page for current deadlines.

Tips for strengthening your application: Because many programs don’t require standardized tests, your undergraduate GPA and professional experience carry more weight. If your GPA is below the stated minimum, some programs offer conditional admission pathways. A strong professional resume and, where applicable, relevant certifications or licenses can bolster an otherwise borderline application.

Tuition and Cost Overview

Lamar University’s online master’s tuition is among the lowest available from a SACSCOC-accredited public university. Understanding the full cost picture requires looking beyond per-credit rates to total program costs, fees, and how Lamar stacks up against realistic alternatives.

Per-Credit Tuition Rates

  • Lamar’s online graduate tuition is approximately $437 per credit hour. This rate generally applies across programs regardless of in-state or out-of-state residency status for online students, though students should verify current rates directly with Lamar’s graduate admissions office. This per-credit rate positions Lamar below most Texas public university competitors and well below the national average for online master’s programs.

Estimated Total Program Costs

Total program costs vary by credit-hour requirements. The table below shows estimated tuition-only costs for representative programs.

ProgramCreditsEstimated Tuition Cost
MS in Industrial Engineering33$14,421
MBA (AACSB)36$15,732
MEd programs (most)36$15,732
MSN — Nursing Administration (CCNE)36$15,732
MSN — Family Nurse Practitioner (CCNE)45$19,665
MEd in Counseling and Development48$20,976
MS in Speech-Language Pathology (CAA)55$24,035

These figures represent tuition only. Additional costs — including university fees, technology fees, course materials, and potential travel costs for programs with clinical requirements — will increase your total investment. Budget an additional 5–15% beyond tuition for fees and materials as a general planning estimate.

Financial Aid and Affordability

  • Online graduate students at Lamar are eligible for federal financial aid, including Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Grad PLUS Loans. Completing the FAFSA is the first step. Lamar also offers a limited number of graduate assistantships and scholarships, though availability for online-only students may be more constrained than for on-campus students.
  • For context, Lamar’s total program costs for most 36-credit degrees come in under $16,000 — roughly half the cost of similar programs at the University of Houston and significantly less than out-of-state rates at many public universities. Employer tuition reimbursement programs, military education benefits (Lamar is a Yellow Ribbon participant), and Texas-specific grant programs may further reduce out-of-pocket costs.

Visit Lamar University’s official online programs page

Lamar’s program strengths intersect with several OMC ranking and comparison pages. These resources can help you evaluate Lamar’s programs in a broader competitive context:

  • Self-Paced Master’s Degrees : While Lamar’s programs are course-based rather than self-paced, students drawn to Lamar for flexibility will benefit from understanding how self-paced alternatives like WGU compare.
  • 6-Month Master’s Degree Online : For students interested in accelerated completion timelines, this ranking provides context on which programs allow the fastest path to a degree — useful for comparing against Lamar’s 12–24 month completion windows.
  • Online Speech Pathology Master’s Programs : Lamar’s CAA-accredited MS in Speech-Language Pathology is among the programs covered in this subject area. See how it compares to other accredited SLP programs nationally.
  • Online Master’s in Health Education : Students considering Lamar’s education and healthcare programs may find relevant alternatives in the health education space.

Frequently Asked Questions

A. Yes. Lamar University holds regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Additionally, specific programs carry programmatic accreditations: the MBA is AACSB-accredited, nursing programs are CCNE-accredited, and the MS in Speech-Language Pathology holds CAA (ASHA) accreditation. Regional accreditation by SACSCOC is the standard for recognized public universities in the southern United States and is widely accepted by employers and other institutions for credit transfer.