Head-to-head comparison
Louisiana State University-Shreveport vs Blue Cliff College-Alexandria: which has better ROI?
Option A Shreveport, LA
Louisiana State University-Shreveport
- Net price / year
- $7,022
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,477
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Alexandria, LA
Blue Cliff College-Alexandria
- Net price / year
- $16,253
- Earnings, 10 years
- $22,177
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Louisiana State University-Shreveport comes closer — median earnings $47,477 against a $28,088 total, vs $22,177 at Blue Cliff College-Alexandria. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Louisiana State University-Shreveport | Blue Cliff College-Alexandria |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,022 | $16,253 |
| Total net cost | $28,088 | $65,012 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,477 | $22,177 |
| Median debt | $22,500 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$45,748 | -$588,672 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Louisiana State University-Shreveport or Blue Cliff College-Alexandria?
Louisiana State University-Shreveport, at $7,022 a year after aid versus $16,253 — a gap of $9,231 a year, or $36,924 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-Shreveport or Blue Cliff College-Alexandria graduates earn more?
Louisiana State University-Shreveport graduates report a median $47,477 ten years after entry, $25,300 more than the $22,177 at Blue Cliff College-Alexandria. 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-Shreveport or Blue Cliff College-Alexandria?
Blue Cliff College-Alexandria: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $22,500 at Louisiana State University-Shreveport, a difference of $13,000. 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?
38% of students finish at Louisiana State University-Shreveport, against 34% at Blue Cliff College-Alexandria. 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.