Xavier University of Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana · Private Nonprofit · 69.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 51/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Xavier University of Louisiana is a private HBCU in New Orleans with about 2,628 undergraduates. It is the only historically Black Catholic university in the United States, giving it a distinctive identity and mission. Sticker tuition of $28,733 drops to a $17,127 average net price, and 54% of students receive Pell Grants, reflecting a student body with significant financial need. Xavier earns a Below Average Value ROI score of 51, with a 12.1-year payback period and median six-year earnings of $46,700. The 48.6% completion rate is a genuine concern, and repayment rates at 66% are below average. Program data is limited, but public health shows a B ROI grade while biology - Xavier's largest measured program at 145 graduates - earns an F, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.46. That biology figure deserves context: a large share of Xavier's biology graduates pursue professional or graduate school, meaning early earnings may not reflect long-term outcomes. Xavier's pre-pharmacy and pre-med pipelines are nationally recognized, and its graduates gain admission to health professional schools at rates that outpace larger research universities.
Xavier University of Louisiana
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $28,733/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $28,733/yr |
| Average net price | $17,127/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $68,508 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $52,184 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $46,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,053 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $255 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 48.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,628 |
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: $28,733/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $17,127/year, or roughly $68,508 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 $14,405/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,096/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $24,053 in federal loans, which works out to about $255 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $52,184 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.52, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
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 | $14,405 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,094 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,836 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,118 |
| $110,001+ | $24,096 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $14,405 net - Xavier's best-aided tier. With 54% Pell recipients, this is a primary student population. The 48.6% completion rate means early intervention and advising are essential. For students who finish, particularly through public health or pre-professional tracks, the investment can be justified; for those who leave without a degree, $24,053 in median debt is a heavy burden at early-career wages.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001 - $75,000 band pays $15,094 - $17,836. These remain affordable figures for a private institution. Middle-income families should evaluate Xavier's specific graduation support programs and research whether the pre-professional pipeline outcomes match their student's goals before committing.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Above $75,000, families pay $19,118 - $24,096. At these price points, Xavier's ROI case rests almost entirely on mission alignment and health-professional school placement rates. Higher-income families choosing Xavier over larger research universities should verify those pipeline statistics directly with the institution.
Earnings by Major
Top 4 most popular majors at Xavier University of Louisiana with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $42,938 | F |
| Public Health | $63,204 | B |
| Chemistry | $48,508 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $41,198 | F |
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.
Public Health
Public Health is Xavier's strongest ROI program, graduating 45 students with four-year earnings of $63,204 and a B grade at a 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio. New Orleans public health infrastructure - combined with national HBCU health-equity networks - positions Xavier public health graduates well for government and nonprofit careers.
Chemistry
Chemistry graduates 30 students with four-year earnings of $48,508 and a C grade at a 0.56 debt-to-earnings ratio. Xavier's chemistry program is a gateway for pre-pharmacy and pre-med tracks; early earnings may undercount the pipeline value for students who go on to professional school immediately after graduation.
Biology
Biology is Xavier's largest program at 145 graduates but carries an F ROI grade with a 1.46 debt-to-earnings ratio and year-one earnings of $17,761. This is almost certainly a pre-professional pipeline cohort whose early earnings reflect graduate and medical school enrollment rather than terminal bachelor's careers. Students should model their specific post-graduation path before treating this grade as definitive.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 66.4% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 66.4% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 55.5% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 57.3% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Xavier University of Louisiana’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
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 | 69.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 450-553 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 500-560 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-24 |
| Enrollment | 2,628 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 54.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,918 |
Xavier accepts about 69% of applicants. Middle 50% SAT is 450 - 553 math and 500 - 560 reading; ACT composite runs 19 - 24. Xavier offers merit and faith-based scholarships. The $17,127 average net price is genuinely accessible relative to peer private institutions, particularly for Pell-eligible students.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Among peers including Dillard University and Abilene Christian University, Xavier's distinctive pre-professional pipeline gives it a niche that raw earnings data undersells. Dillard, also a New Orleans HBCU, offers comparison; Xavier typically outperforms on health professional school placement. Abilene Christian presents a contrasting faith-based private model with somewhat better aggregate ROI metrics, making it worth comparing for students who are undecided between faith-mission schools.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xavier University of Louisiana (this school) | 51 | $17,127 | $52,184 |
| Xavier University | 65 | $32,997 | $64,873 |
| Hampton University | 47 | $25,319 | $59,159 |
| Howard University | 41 | $50,539 | $63,066 |
| Bowie State University | 40 | $19,298 | $54,537 |
| Morgan State University | 34 | $14,985 | $50,698 |
Who Thrives Here
Xavier is best suited to students committed to health professional school pipelines - particularly pharmacy, medicine, and public health - who value a supportive, mission-driven HBCU environment. Students who complete the four-year degree tend to pursue post-baccalaureate credentials that substantially improve lifetime earnings beyond what early-career data captures. Students who are not on a health-professional path should review program ROI data carefully given the low completion rate and high debt-to-earnings ratios outside public health.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Xavier University of Louisiana is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $17,127 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $52,184 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 12.1 years to earn the cost back - slower than most four-year schools. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: its 48.5% graduation rate, concerning loan repayment rates.
Median debt of $24,053 against $52,184 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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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.