Head-to-head comparison
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College vs Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University: which has better ROI?
Option A Baton Rouge, LA
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
- Net price / year
- $19,151
- Earnings, 10 years
- $61,251
- Payback
- 5.9 yrs
Option B Baton Rouge, LA
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University
- Net price / year
- $18,552
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,419
- Payback
- 6.7 yrs
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $76,604 in 5.9 years versus 6.7 years at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, on median earnings of $61,251 vs $59,419 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,151 | $18,552 |
| Total net cost | $76,604 | $74,208 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $61,251 | $59,419 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $27,672 |
| Payback | 5.9 yrs | 6.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $181,216 | $146,972 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College or Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University?
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, at $18,552 a year after aid versus $19,151 — a gap of $599 a year, or $2,396 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College or Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University graduates earn more?
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College graduates report a median $61,251 ten years after entry, $1,832 more than the $59,419 at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College or Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University?
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $27,672 at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, a difference of $7,172. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
69% of students finish at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, against 45% at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.