Head-to-head comparison
McNeese State University vs Blue Cliff College-Metairie: which has better ROI?
Option A Lake Charles, LA
McNeese State University
- Net price / year
- $12,493
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,453
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Metairie, LA
Blue Cliff College-Metairie
- Net price / year
- $9,863
- Earnings, 10 years
- $22,177
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but McNeese State University comes closer — median earnings $46,453 against a $49,972 total, vs $22,177 at Blue Cliff College-Metairie. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | McNeese State University | Blue Cliff College-Metairie |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,493 | $9,863 |
| Total net cost | $49,972 | $39,452 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,453 | $22,177 |
| Median debt | $23,000 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$88,112 | -$563,112 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, McNeese State University or Blue Cliff College-Metairie?
Blue Cliff College-Metairie, at $9,863 a year after aid versus $12,493 — a gap of $2,630 a year, or $10,520 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 McNeese State University or Blue Cliff College-Metairie graduates earn more?
McNeese State University graduates report a median $46,453 ten years after entry, $24,276 more than the $22,177 at Blue Cliff College-Metairie. 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, McNeese State University or Blue Cliff College-Metairie?
Blue Cliff College-Metairie: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $23,000 at McNeese State University, a difference of $13,500. 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?
56% of students finish at Blue Cliff College-Metairie, against 47% at McNeese State 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.