University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Lafayette, Louisiana · Public · 87.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 47/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Louisiana at Lafayette scores 47 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale. With in-state tuition of $10,418 and a net price of $13,530, the price point is low - but a 52.6% completion rate and 16.1-year payback period undermine the value case. The engineering and nursing programs are the school's strongest assets: Registered Nursing (326 graduates, $80,416 year-one), Electrical Engineering ($76,191 year-one), Mechanical Engineering (96 graduates, $63,812 year-one), Chemical Engineering ($63,886 year-one), and Civil Engineering ($69,177 year-one) all carry B or B+ ROI grades. The problems lie in the high-volume programs: Liberal Arts and Sciences (335 graduates, $31,419 year-one, ROI grade D), Psychology (136 graduates, $22,696 year-one, ROI grade F), and Communication Disorders Sciences (63 graduates, $18,766 year-one, ROI grade F) drag the aggregate median down sharply. Repayment rate of 81.8% at three years is adequate. Median debt of $22,902 is moderate. UL Lafayette serves a predominantly Louisiana student population in an oil-industry-adjacent economy - petroleum engineering ($102,594 year-four) is a notable outlier.
How University of Louisiana at Lafayette 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.
- Payback period16.1 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $10,418/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $24,146/yr |
| Average net price | $13,530/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $54,120 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $47,089 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,902 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $243 |
| Estimated payback period | 16.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 52.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 12,428 |
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: $10,418/year ($24,146/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $13,530/year, or roughly $54,120 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 $11,157/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $18,562/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,902, which works out to about $243 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($37,200) and comes to 0.62, 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 | $11,157 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,283 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,692 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,079 |
| $110,001+ | $18,562 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $11,157 per year at UL Lafayette. Four years at $11,157 totals $44,628. For nursing or engineering students who complete, this is an excellent value - year-one earnings in both fields exceed the four-year total cost by year two. The 52.6% completion rate is the primary risk: low-income students who do not graduate carry debt without a credential.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $13,692 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $17,079. At these net prices, nursing and engineering students have a compelling financial case even before the first paycheck. Business administration and communication students face a more marginal return at these costs.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $18,562 per year, totaling $74,248 over four years. Engineering and nursing graduates recover this cost in well under two years of working. Even liberal arts students at this price point face a manageable debt load if they complete, though a 16-year institutional median payback reflects the high volume of students in low-earning programs.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Louisiana at Lafayette with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $45,010 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $91,270 | B+ |
| Psychology | $44,574 | F |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $53,265 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $53,473 | D |
| Biology | $41,323 | F |
| Mechanical Engineering | $91,187 | B+ |
| Teacher Education | $46,313 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $59,315 | C |
| Computer Science | $83,527 | B |
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.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (326 graduates) earns $80,416 year-one and $91,270 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.336 (ROI grade B+). Median debt of $27,000 at $80k year-one is very manageable.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (96 graduates) earns $63,812 year-one and $91,187 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.348 (ROI grade B+). Median debt of $22,175 at $63k year-one is a 0.35 ratio. Louisiana's industrial economy - petrochemical plants, refineries, and manufacturing along the Mississippi - provides strong placement for ME graduates. The four-year figure of $91k reflects career advancement in those industrial sectors.
Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering (34 graduates) earns $63,886 year-one and $102,119 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.344 (ROI grade B+). The four-year jump to $102k reflects the Louisiana petrochemical industry premium for chemical engineers. Median debt of $22,000 at $63k year-one is manageable.
Computer Science
Computer Science (64 graduates) earns $62,452 year-one and $83,527 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.368 (ROI grade B). Median debt of $23,000 at $62k year-one is a 0.37 ratio. CS graduates in the Lafayette area benefit from an emerging tech sector around data and energy industries. Year-four earnings of $83k reflect regional career tracks that are competitive for a public school in this tier.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 84.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 81.8% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 67.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 70.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Louisiana at Lafayette’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 | 87.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 550-610 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 570-630 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 23-28 |
| Enrollment | 12,428 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 41.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,889 |
At 87.0% admission, UL Lafayette is broadly accessible. SAT 550-610 Math and 570-630 Reading, ACT 23-28, describe a moderate academic profile. Students choosing UL Lafayette for in-state tuition rates should invest in program-specific research - engineering and nursing students have a compelling financial case; others face a 16-year institutional median payback.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The aggregate ROI of 47 is dragged down by the large liberal arts and psychology enrollment.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette (this school) | 47 | $13,530 | $47,089 |
| Western Michigan University | 50 | $15,273 | $53,562 |
| Tarleton State University | 49 | $20,783 | $53,040 |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 47 | $10,965 | $48,160 |
| Louisiana State University-Alexandria | 43 | $7,065 | $42,205 |
| Grambling State University | 12 | $19,809 | $41,109 |
Who Thrives Here
UL Lafayette admits 87.0% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 550-610 Math and 570-630 Reading; ACT 23-28. At 12,428 enrolled, it is a mid-size public comprehensive. The Pell grant rate of 41.5% indicates substantial financial need. UL Lafayette draws from South Louisiana and is the flagship of the University of Louisiana System. Engineering, nursing, and business are the programs with the clearest professional outcomes.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for University of Louisiana at Lafayette is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $13,530 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $47,089 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 16.1 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: high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: its 52.6% graduation rate, a long payback period.
Median debt of $22,902 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $37,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62, 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.
University of Louisiana at Lafayette: Common Questions
Is University of Louisiana at Lafayette worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. University of Louisiana at Lafayette scores 47/100 on our ROI scale. At $13,530 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $47,089 ten years after entry, so it takes about 16.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does University of Louisiana at Lafayette 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 $13,530 a year, or roughly $54,120 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 University of Louisiana at Lafayette graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $47,089 ten years after enrolling, roughly $5,289 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 University of Louisiana at Lafayette?
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 16.1 years for University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Louisiana at Lafayette graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,902, against average earnings of $37,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62. 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 University of Louisiana at Lafayette?
The six-year graduation rate is 52.6%. 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.