Head-to-head comparison
University of Louisiana at Lafayette vs Delgado Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Lafayette, LA
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
- Net price / year
- $13,530
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,089
- Payback
- No payback
Option B New Orleans, LA
Delgado Community College
- Net price / year
- $9,747
- Earnings, 10 years
- $33,305
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Louisiana at Lafayette comes closer — median earnings $47,089 against a $54,120 total, vs $33,305 at Delgado Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | Delgado Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,530 | $9,747 |
| Total net cost | $54,120 | $38,988 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,089 | $33,305 |
| Median debt | $22,902 | $20,198 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$79,540 | -$340,088 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Louisiana at Lafayette or Delgado Community College?
Delgado Community College, at $9,747 a year after aid versus $13,530 — a gap of $3,783 a year, or $15,132 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 University of Louisiana at Lafayette or Delgado Community College graduates earn more?
University of Louisiana at Lafayette graduates report a median $47,089 ten years after entry, $13,784 more than the $33,305 at Delgado Community 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, University of Louisiana at Lafayette or Delgado Community College?
Delgado Community College: its completers carry a median $20,198 in federal loans versus $22,902 at University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a difference of $2,704. 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?
53% of students finish at University of Louisiana at Lafayette, against 24% at Delgado Community 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.