Delta College of Arts & Technology — ROI, Cost & Payback
Delta College of Arts & Technology charges a net price of $19,789/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $79,156. Median earnings ten years after entry are $34,222, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Delta College of Arts & Technology does not clear its cost — it ranks #36 of 52 Louisiana colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $19,789/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $79,156 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $34,222 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$14,138/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $7,393 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$361,916 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Delta College of Arts & Technology's own numbers. Net price $19,789 × 4 years = $79,156 total. Median earnings $34,222 fall $14,138 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $79,156 bill in about 7.9 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Delta College of Arts & Technology students graduate with?
A median $7,393 in federal loans among completers, or 22% of the $34,222 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Delta College of Arts & Technology students graduate?
65% finish their degree — 35% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $79,156 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $121,778 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Delta College of Arts & Technology expensive compared with other Louisiana colleges?
Its $19,789 net price runs $5,895 above the $13,895 median across the 52 Louisiana colleges we profile, or $23,578 more across the full degree.