University of New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana · Public · 74.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 47/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of New Orleans scores 47 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale. The 38% completion rate - fewer than four in ten students finish - is the dominant risk factor here. Average 6-year earnings of $35,200 are modest, and the 14.7-year payback period reflects the combination of low earnings and a broad student population that does not complete at a normal rate. Net price is low at $12,384, and in-state tuition is $9,172. The best programs show genuinely strong outcomes: Computer Science (65 graduates, $69,204 year-one, $99,548 year-four, ROI grade A, debt-to-earnings 0.240) is the standout. Electrical Engineering (28 graduates, B grade) and Mechanical Engineering (45 graduates, B+) are solid. Accounting earns a B grade (45 graduates). Lower-performing programs include Finance (D), Psychology (F), English (F), and Drama (F). The New Orleans labor market is tourism- and energy-heavy, which creates unusual career pathways - oil and gas for engineers, creative industries for arts graduates - that Scorecard earnings may not fully capture. The 10-year earnings of $47,872 show some long-run appreciation for completers.
How University of New Orleans 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 rate38.0% - 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.
University of New Orleans
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,172/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $14,008/yr |
| Average net price | $12,384/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $49,536 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $47,872 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,750 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $199 |
| Estimated payback period | 14.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 38.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 4,638 |
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: $9,172/year ($14,008/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 $12,384/year, or roughly $49,536 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 $11,532/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $17,504/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $18,750, which works out to about $199 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($35,200) and comes to 0.53, 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 | $11,532 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,506 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,222 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,942 |
| $110,001+ | $17,504 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-30,000 pay $11,532 per year at UNO, and the 30001-48000 bracket pays $10,506 - slightly lower, reflecting the aid formula's step structure. Total 4-year cost under $42,000 for low-income students is genuinely affordable. The 38% completion rate is the dominant risk: for lower-income students who borrow and do not complete, even this low cost creates difficult debt situations against earnings that never arrive.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families pay $13,222 (48001-75000) and $16,942 (75001-110000) per year. For students in lower-earning programs, the 14.7-year payback period at middle-income pricing reflects a less compelling ROI case. Program selection is the primary lever middle-income families should exercise at UNO.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $17,504 per year - approximately $70,000 over four years. At $35,200 average 6-year earnings, aggregate payback is slow. For high-income families whose students complete CS or engineering, the low total cost produces excellent program-specific payback. The aggregate data is misleading for well-prepared students targeting STEM: the 38% completion rate reflects the full enrollment population, not the completion rate within selective programs.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of New Orleans with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $56,058 | C |
| Biology | $52,671 | C |
| Psychology | $37,747 | F |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $49,023 | D |
| Computer Science | $99,548 | A |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $28,807 | F |
| Mechanical Engineering | $91,435 | B+ |
| Accounting | $59,301 | B |
| Civil Engineering | $80,704 | B+ |
| Teacher Education | $51,652 | C+ |
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
CS is UNO's flagship ROI program: 65 graduates, $69,204 year-one, $99,548 year-four, ROI grade A with debt-to-earnings 0.240 and median debt of just $16,604. The A grade and near-100k four-year figure are strong outcomes. New Orleans' growing tech and defense contracting sectors provide employment, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.240 is excellent. Students who complete CS at UNO are getting a strong financial return at low in-state cost.
Mechanical Engineering
45 graduates, $68,968 year-one, $91,435 year-four, ROI grade B+ with debt-to-earnings 0.275 and median debt $19,000. Mechanical engineering at UNO feeds into the offshore oil and gas, shipbuilding, and manufacturing sectors of the Gulf Coast economy. Year-one earnings of $68,968 and four-year of $91k reflect consistent demand for MechE graduates in this region. The B+ grade is earned; this is a financially solid technical program at low cost.
Civil Engineering
35 graduates, $65,119 year-one, $80,704 year-four, ROI grade B+ with debt-to-earnings 0.334 and median debt $21,750. Civil engineering at UNO places graduates into Louisiana's infrastructure, coastal engineering, and municipal engineering sectors - fields with post-Katrina investment that creates ongoing demand. Year-one earnings above $65k with median debt of $21,750 is a strong value proposition at in-state pricing.
Accounting
45 graduates, $41,540 year-one, $59,301 year-four, ROI grade B with debt-to-earnings 0.435 and median debt $18,069. Accounting at UNO earns a B grade with relatively low median debt of $18,069. The four-year trajectory from $41k to $59k reflects career progression in New Orleans' public accounting, banking, and hospitality finance sectors. At in-state cost, the B-grade accounting outcome is financially reasonable for students planning to pursue CPA licensure.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 75.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 72.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 65.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 65.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of New Orleans’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 | 74.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 455-625 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 480-616 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 17-23 |
| Enrollment | 4,638 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 39.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,208 |
The 38% completion rate is the critical number. Prospective students should ask directly about academic support, advising, and the specific retention challenges UNO addresses. Students who need strong academic support infrastructure to succeed should investigate those resources before enrolling.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Orleans (this school) | 47 | $12,384 | $47,872 |
| University of Massachusetts Global | 52 | $32,654 | $65,703 |
| Washburn University | 51 | $15,280 | $49,774 |
| Louisiana State University-Alexandria | 43 | $7,065 | $42,205 |
| Dalton State College | 41 | $5,012 | $40,251 |
| Grambling State University | 12 | $19,809 | $41,109 |
Who Thrives Here
UNO admits 74.3% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 455-625 Math and 480-616 Reading; ACT composite 17-23. Enrollment is 4,638 - a mid-sized urban public university in a distinctive cultural city. The 39.1% Pell rate indicates a significant lower-income student population that faces concentrated completion risk. The New Orleans location provides access to energy sector employers (offshore operations, petrochemical), healthcare, hospitality, and film/media industries that create distinctive career pathways for graduates. Students who complete engineering or CS have strong outcomes; the completion rate is the primary barrier.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for University of New Orleans is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $12,384 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $47,872 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 14.7 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 to keep an eye on: its 38.0% graduation rate, a long payback period.
Median debt of $18,750 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $35,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53, 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 New Orleans: Common Questions
Is University of New Orleans worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. University of New Orleans scores 47/100 on our ROI scale. At $12,384 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $47,872 ten years after entry, so it takes about 14.7 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 New Orleans 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 $12,384 a year, or roughly $49,536 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 New Orleans graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $47,872 ten years after enrolling, roughly $6,072 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 New Orleans?
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 14.7 years for University of New Orleans. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of New Orleans graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $18,750, against average earnings of $35,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53. 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 New Orleans?
The six-year graduation rate is 38.0%. 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.