Refineries and chemical plants line the Gulf Coast around Beaumont and Port Arthur, and Lamar's engineering school grew up alongside them. The university is a public member of the Texas State University System, founded in 1923. International graduate students come mainly for engineering, computer science and industrial engineering master's degrees. Tuition is modest and Houston is 90 minutes west.
Beaumont, Texas, United States
Official website: lamar.edu
Public university, Texas State University System
1923
Beaumont, near the Gulf Coast
$16,000 – $22,000
International students, graduate and undergraduate
$10,000 – $13,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on lamar.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Industrial Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MEng Chemical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Electrical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
Engineering programmes close to the Gulf Coast petrochemical industry.
A large community of Indian graduate students.
Low tuition and living costs.
Engineering graduates join refineries, chemical plants and construction firms along the coast.
STEM master's graduates can apply for OPT and the STEM extension.
Houston's energy and tech employers are within easy reach.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
The campus is compact, with residence halls, the Montagne Center arena and plenty of cheap student housing nearby. Summers are hot and humid.
Beaumont is small and inexpensive, with a car-based layout. Houston is about 90 minutes west on Interstate 10.
Form I-20 issued by Lamar University
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Lamar reviews applications on a rolling basis with published cut-off dates. Apply by spring for fall or by October for spring so the I-20 can be issued.
Most programmes start in fall and spring. Some graduate programmes also take summer entrants.
International students come in on an F-1 visa. The I-20 comes from Lamar University after you confirm your place and show you can cover a year of costs; you then pay the SEVIS fee, fill in the DS-160 and book your consulate interview.
Computer science, industrial, chemical and electrical engineering and the MBA are popular. Graduate entry needs a relevant bachelor's degree and IELTS 6.5 or equivalent; some departments ask for the GRE.
Lamar offers some competitive scholarships for international students, and assistantships in some engineering departments. Check the graduate school's funding page.
