Head-to-head comparison
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College vs Tulane University of Louisiana: 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 New Orleans, LA
Tulane University of Louisiana
- Net price / year
- $39,949
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,268
- Payback
- 10.7 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 10.7 years at Tulane University of Louisiana, on median earnings of $61,251 vs $63,268 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | Tulane University of Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,151 | $39,949 |
| Total net cost | $76,604 | $159,796 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $61,251 | $63,268 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $20,500 |
| Payback | 5.9 yrs | 10.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $181,216 | $138,364 |
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 Tulane University of Louisiana?
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, at $19,151 a year after aid versus $39,949 — a gap of $20,798 a year, or $83,192 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 Tulane University of Louisiana graduates earn more?
Tulane University of Louisiana graduates report a median $63,268 ten years after entry, $2,017 more than the $61,251 at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical 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 Tulane University of Louisiana?
Completers at both borrow a median $20,500, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
86% of students finish at Tulane University of Louisiana, against 69% at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical 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.