At $14,118/yr net price, University of Louisiana at Lafayette graduates earn $47,089/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $13,089/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $14,118 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $56,472 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $47,089/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$13,089/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 4.3 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 52.0% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $22,902 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,226/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,427/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,448/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,180/yr |
| $110,001+ | $18,398/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master | $95,739 | $51,250 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. | Master | $76,460 | $20,500 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $65,856 | $15,494 |
| Petroleum Engineering. | Bachelor | $61,888 | $20,500 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Doctoral | $60,161 | $61,500 |
| Chemical Engineering. | Bachelor | $59,124 | $20,927 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Bachelor | $58,402 | $22,175 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | Bachelor | $57,318 | $21,500 |
| Computer Science. | Bachelor | $56,505 | $22,750 |
| Engineering, General. | Master | $52,607 |
The Risk Factor
52.0% of students at University of Louisiana at Lafayette graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
University of Louisiana at Lafayette gives you a moderate financial return with a wide gap between what you study. The typical graduate earns about $47,000 ten years out against roughly $23,000 in median debt, so the debt-to-earnings math works for most paths, but the median hides how much your major decides your outcome.
Nursing pays the best here and costs you the least to get there, with debt under $16,000. That combination makes it the safest bet on campus. The four engineering programs listed all clear $57,000, with petroleum and chemical engineering leading, but they carry heavier debt loads near $20,000 to $22,000. Petroleum engineering ties you directly to Louisiana's oil and gas industry, which pays well in good years and cuts jobs hard in downturns, so treat that starting salary as cyclical.
The bigger risk is completion. Only about half of you graduate, and one in four freshmen do not return for a second year. Debt with no degree is the worst outcome at any school, and those odds are real here. If you are not confident you will finish, that changes the calculation before you enroll.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay around $11,000 a year. above $110,000, you pay about $18,000. That $7,000 spread is modest, so higher earners are not heavily subsidizing lower earners here.
This school fits you if you are aiming at nursing or engineering and can commit to finishing. Look harder elsewhere if you are undecided, since the majors outside the top-earning programs are not listed with returns that justify borrowing, and the retention numbers mean the risk of leaving with debt and no credential is not small.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is University of Louisiana at Lafayette worth the cost?
UL Lafayette offers decent value with a low net price of $14,118 annually and manageable debt levels around $22,902. However, the 52% graduation rate means nearly half of students don't finish, which significantly hurts ROI for those who don't complete their degree.
What are the highest paying majors at University of Louisiana at Lafayette?
Nursing programs lead with earnings up to $95,739, followed by geological sciences at $76,460 and petroleum engineering at $61,888. These programs justify the cost better than most other majors at the university.
How much debt do University of Louisiana at Lafayette graduates have?
Graduates typically leave with $22,902 in debt, which is reasonable given the low annual cost. With median earnings of $47,089 ten years after graduation, most graduates can manage this debt load.
Does University of Louisiana at Lafayette have a good return on investment?
The ROI depends heavily on your major and whether you graduate. Strong programs like nursing and engineering offer solid returns, but the low 52% graduation rate creates significant risk for students who may not complete their degree.