Head-to-head comparison
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College vs Southern University and A & M College: 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
Southern University and A & M College
- Net price / year
- $20,077
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,371
- Payback
- No payback
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 not at all at Southern University and A & M College, on median earnings of $61,251 vs $43,371 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | Southern University and A & M College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,151 | $20,077 |
| Total net cost | $76,604 | $80,308 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $61,251 | $43,371 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $29,251 |
| Payback | 5.9 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $181,216 | -$180,088 |
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 Southern University and A & M College?
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, at $19,151 a year after aid versus $20,077 — a gap of $926 a year, or $3,704 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 Southern University and A & M College graduates earn more?
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College graduates report a median $61,251 ten years after entry, $17,880 more than the $43,371 at Southern University and A & M College. 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 Southern University and A & M College?
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $29,251 at Southern University and A & M College, a difference of $8,751. 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 27% at Southern University and A & M College. 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.