Head-to-head comparison
University of Louisiana at Monroe vs Blue Cliff College-Alexandria: which has better ROI?
Option A Monroe, LA
University of Louisiana at Monroe
- Net price / year
- $13,466
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,769
- 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 University of Louisiana at Monroe comes closer — median earnings $46,769 against a $53,864 total, vs $22,177 at Blue Cliff College-Alexandria. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Louisiana at Monroe | Blue Cliff College-Alexandria |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,466 | $16,253 |
| Total net cost | $53,864 | $65,012 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,769 | $22,177 |
| Median debt | $21,500 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$85,684 | -$588,672 |
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 Monroe or Blue Cliff College-Alexandria?
University of Louisiana at Monroe, at $13,466 a year after aid versus $16,253 — a gap of $2,787 a year, or $11,148 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 Monroe or Blue Cliff College-Alexandria graduates earn more?
University of Louisiana at Monroe graduates report a median $46,769 ten years after entry, $24,592 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, University of Louisiana at Monroe or Blue Cliff College-Alexandria?
Blue Cliff College-Alexandria: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $21,500 at University of Louisiana at Monroe, a difference of $12,000. 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?
54% of students finish at University of Louisiana at Monroe, 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.