Louisiana State University-Shreveport
Shreveport, Louisiana · Public · 50.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 52/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Louisiana State University-Shreveport is a small public regional university in northwest Louisiana with 2,153 enrolled students and a Below Average Value ROI score of 52. The low sticker price - $7,518 in tuition and a $7,022 net price - is the school's chief asset. Total four-year net cost is $28,088. The payback period of 13.5 years reflects the difficulty many graduates face in repaying debt relative to their earnings. Computer Science is a bright spot, with graduates earning $60,259 in year one and $80,276 by year four. Business Administration is the largest program by graduates but earns a D ROI grade. Biology earns an F.
How Louisiana State University-Shreveport scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- 6-year graduation rate37.5% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
Louisiana State University-Shreveport
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $7,518/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $7,518/yr |
| Average net price | $7,022/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $28,088 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $47,477 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $36,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $239 |
| Estimated payback period | 13.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 37.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,153 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $7,518/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $7,022/year, or roughly $28,088 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $5,680/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $15,599/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,500, which works out to about $239 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($36,000) and comes to 0.63, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $5,680 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $4,836 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $5,969 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $10,359 |
| $110,001+ | $15,599 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay a net price of $5,680 per year - and the 30k-48k bracket pays even less at $4,836. Total four-year cost under $25,000 is genuinely accessible. The question is completion: only 37.5% of students finish, and the financial risk of enrolling without completing is real.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48k-75k bracket pays $5,969 per year. The 75k-110k bracket jumps to $10,359. Cost remains very low throughout the middle-income range. For families who want affordable regional access, LSUS is hard to beat on price. Outcomes are what temper the enthusiasm.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $15,599 per year. Even at the highest income level, LSUS remains very cheap by national standards.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Louisiana State University-Shreveport with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $54,808 | D |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $49,127 | D |
| Biology | $45,759 | F |
| Marketing | $52,371 | C |
| Psychology | $40,731 | D |
| Computer Science | $80,276 | C+ |
| Public Health | $61,423 | - |
| Teacher Education | $53,352 | C |
| Accounting | $61,117 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $26,536 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science is LSUS's best ROI program by a wide margin, graduating 27 students per year. Year-one median earnings are $60,259 and year-four earnings reach $80,276. Median debt is $28,992 with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48 and a C+ ROI grade. These are solid outcomes for a regional school at this price point. Shreveport's tech sector is limited, but CS graduates have geographic flexibility and remote work options that most other LSUS majors don't. The combination of low total cost and a strong earning major makes CS at LSUS a good value proposition.
Public Health
Public Health graduates 19 students per year with four-year median earnings of $61,423 (year-one data unavailable). The Shreveport area has significant public health infrastructure given its medical center complex and regional hospital system. Public health graduates can enter roles in health department administration, community health education, and hospital operations. The program is small but serves a genuine regional need.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is LSUS's largest program, graduating 88 students per year. Year-one median earnings are $43,321 and year-four earnings hit $54,808. But median debt of $36,651 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.85 earns a D ROI grade - a sign that many graduates are borrowing more than the program warrants. Students who use this program to enter local business, management, and small enterprise roles can find employment, but the debt level relative to earnings is the key risk.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 71.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 69.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 59.0% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 60.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Louisiana State University-Shreveport’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 50.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 485-590 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 515-605 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-24 |
| Enrollment | 2,153 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 38.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,562 |
LSUS admits about half its applicants, making it moderately accessible. The ACT range of 18-24 covers a wide band of academic preparation. SAT math runs 485-590, reading 515-605. Admission is not a barrier for most applicants, but the 37.5% completion rate suggests the harder challenge is finishing, not getting in.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Its net price is extremely low.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana State University-Shreveport (this school) | 52 | $7,022 | $47,477 |
| Miami University-Hamilton | 62 | $11,286 | $55,076 |
| Chadron State College | 50 | $12,549 | $47,002 |
| Wayne State College | 46 | $15,360 | $47,075 |
| Louisiana State University-Alexandria | 43 | $7,065 | $42,205 |
| Grambling State University | 12 | $19,809 | $41,109 |
Who Thrives Here
LSUS admits about half of applicants (50.6%), with ACT scores of 18-24 and SAT ranges of 485-590 math and 515-605 reading. Pell Grant recipients make up 38.6% of students, reflecting a predominantly lower-income and first-generation student body. Students who succeed here are typically self-motivated adults who need affordable access to a degree in the Shreveport region. The school serves non-traditional students and working adults heavily. Students who are academically prepared and have clear vocational goals - particularly in CS, healthcare, or education - have a better shot at the positive outcomes the data shows for those fields.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Louisiana State University-Shreveport is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $7,022 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $47,477 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 13.5 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates. What to keep an eye on: its 37.5% graduation rate, a three-year loan repayment rate of 69.9% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $22,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $36,000 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Louisiana State University-Shreveport: Common Questions
Is Louisiana State University-Shreveport worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Louisiana State University-Shreveport scores 52/100 on our ROI scale. At $7,022 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $47,477 ten years after entry, so it takes about 13.5 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Louisiana State University-Shreveport cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $7,022 a year, or roughly $28,088 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Louisiana State University-Shreveport graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $47,477 ten years after enrolling, roughly $5,677 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Louisiana State University-Shreveport?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 13.5 years for Louisiana State University-Shreveport. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Louisiana State University-Shreveport graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,500, against average earnings of $36,000 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Louisiana State University-Shreveport?
The six-year graduation rate is 37.5%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.