Head-to-head comparison
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College vs University of Louisiana at Lafayette: 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 Lafayette, LA
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
- Net price / year
- $13,530
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,089
- 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 University of Louisiana at Lafayette, on median earnings of $61,251 vs $47,089 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | University of Louisiana at Lafayette |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,151 | $13,530 |
| Total net cost | $76,604 | $54,120 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $61,251 | $47,089 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $22,902 |
| Payback | 5.9 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $181,216 | -$79,540 |
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 University of Louisiana at Lafayette?
University of Louisiana at Lafayette, at $13,530 a year after aid versus $19,151 — a gap of $5,621 a year, or $22,484 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 University of Louisiana at Lafayette graduates earn more?
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College graduates report a median $61,251 ten years after entry, $14,162 more than the $47,089 at University of Louisiana at Lafayette. 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 University of Louisiana at Lafayette?
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $22,902 at University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a difference of $2,402. 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 53% at University of Louisiana at Lafayette. 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.