Head-to-head comparison
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College vs Louisiana Tech 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 Ruston, LA
Louisiana Tech University
- Net price / year
- $11,864
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,279
- Payback
- 12.1 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 12.1 years at Louisiana Tech University, on median earnings of $61,251 vs $52,279 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | Louisiana Tech University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,151 | $11,864 |
| Total net cost | $76,604 | $47,456 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $61,251 | $52,279 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $22,135 |
| Payback | 5.9 yrs | 12.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $181,216 | $30,924 |
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 Louisiana Tech University?
Louisiana Tech University, at $11,864 a year after aid versus $19,151 — a gap of $7,287 a year, or $29,148 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 Louisiana Tech University graduates earn more?
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College graduates report a median $61,251 ten years after entry, $8,972 more than the $52,279 at Louisiana Tech 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 Louisiana Tech University?
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $22,135 at Louisiana Tech University, a difference of $1,635. 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 64% at Louisiana Tech 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.