Best Colleges in Louisiana by ROI

Trying to find the best value in Louisiana? We ranked all 23 colleges we track here on what graduates actually earn versus what families actually pay, using U.S. Department of Education data. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College comes out on top at 76/100 - here's how every school compares.

23
Schools
42
Avg ROI Score
$17,853
Avg Net Price
76
Top Score

We scored all 23 Louisiana colleges in our dataset from 0 to 100 on one thing: financial return. The state averages 42/100, on an average net price of $17,853 a year after grants and scholarships. The school that does best by your money is Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College at 76/100.

Graduates of Tulane University of Louisiana earn the most ten years out of any school in the state, a median $63,268. The lightest price tag belongs to Louisiana State University-Shreveport at $7,022 a year. The list below ranks every Louisiana college we scored by ROI, so you can weigh what you'd pay against what you'd likely earn.

Top 10 Louisiana Colleges by ROI Score

  1. 1Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBaton Rouge, LA · Public76ROI
  2. 2Louisiana Tech UniversityRuston, LA · Public64ROI
  3. 3Tulane University of LouisianaNew Orleans, LA · Private Nonprofit64ROI
  4. 4Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady UniversityBaton Rouge, LA · Private Nonprofit61ROI
  5. 5Louisiana Christian UniversityPineville, LA · Private Nonprofit56ROI
  6. 6Louisiana State University-ShreveportShreveport, LA · Public52ROI
  7. 7Xavier University of LouisianaNew Orleans, LA · Private Nonprofit51ROI
  8. 8University of New OrleansNew Orleans, LA · Public47ROI
  9. 9University of Louisiana at MonroeMonroe, LA · Public47ROI
  10. 10University of Louisiana at LafayetteLafayette, LA · Public47ROI

Louisiana College ROI: Common Questions

What is the best-value college in Louisiana?

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College has the highest ROI score in Louisiana at 76/100, while the lowest net price among Louisiana schools we track is $7,022/year at Louisiana State University-Shreveport. Rankings are based on net price and median graduate earnings from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.

How much does college cost in Louisiana?

The average net price across the 23 Louisiana colleges in our dataset is $17,853 per year, after grants and scholarships are applied. Actual cost varies widely by family income and institution.

Which Louisiana college has the highest graduate earnings?

Tulane University of Louisiana reports the highest median earnings among Louisiana schools we scored, at $63,268 ten years after enrollment. Higher earnings do not always mean better ROI, since cost matters just as much.

How many colleges in Louisiana did CampusROI analyze?

We scored 23 colleges in Louisiana on return on investment. Of those, 4 earn an ROI score of 60 or higher. See our methodology for how each score is calculated.

All Louisiana Schools by ROI Score

23 schools

76

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Baton Rouge, LA

Strong ValuePublic
Net Price
$19,151
Earnings
$61,251
Completion
69%
64

Louisiana Tech University

Ruston, LA

Fair ValuePublic
Net Price
$11,864
Earnings
$52,279
Completion
64%
64

Tulane University of Louisiana

New Orleans, LA

Fair ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$39,949
Earnings
$63,268
Completion
86%
61

Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University

Baton Rouge, LA

Fair ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$18,552
Earnings
$59,419
Completion
45%
56

Louisiana Christian University

Pineville, LA

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$13,113
Earnings
$51,700
Completion
44%
52

Louisiana State University-Shreveport

Shreveport, LA

Below Average ValuePublic
Net Price
$7,022
Earnings
$47,477
Completion
38%
51

Xavier University of Louisiana

New Orleans, LA

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$17,127
Earnings
$52,184
Completion
49%
47

University of New Orleans

New Orleans, LA

Below Average ValuePublic
Net Price
$12,384
Earnings
$47,872
Completion
38%
47

University of Louisiana at Monroe

Monroe, LA

Below Average ValuePublic
Net Price
$13,466
Earnings
$46,769
Completion
54%
47

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Lafayette, LA

Below Average ValuePublic
Net Price
$13,530
Earnings
$47,089
Completion
53%
45

University of Holy Cross

New Orleans, LA

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$15,635
Earnings
$49,316
Completion
49%
44

Nicholls State University

Thibodaux, LA

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$12,947
Earnings
$45,454
Completion
54%
43

Louisiana State University-Alexandria

Alexandria, LA

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$7,065
Earnings
$42,205
Completion
34%
42

Loyola University New Orleans

New Orleans, LA

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$23,696
Earnings
$52,927
Completion
59%
42

McNeese State University

Lake Charles, LA

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$12,493
Earnings
$46,453
Completion
47%
42

Southeastern Louisiana University

Hammond, LA

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$13,154
Earnings
$46,482
Completion
45%
38

Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Natchitoches, LA

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$13,606
Earnings
$47,021
Completion
43%
35

Centenary College of Louisiana

Shreveport, LA

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$23,624
Earnings
$50,330
Completion
56%
25

Saint Joseph Seminary College

St. Benedict, LA

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$45,460
Earnings
$38,366
Completion
48%
16

Southern University and A & M College

Baton Rouge, LA

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$20,077
Earnings
$43,371
Completion
27%
15

Dillard University

New Orleans, LA

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$22,094
Earnings
$39,196
Completion
43%
12

Grambling State University

Grambling, LA

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$19,809
Earnings
$41,109
Completion
36%
8

Southern University at New Orleans

New Orleans, LA

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$14,810
Earnings
$34,042
Completion
13%

Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release