Grambling State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Grambling State University charges a net price of $19,809/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $79,236. Median earnings ten years after entry are $41,109, 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, Grambling State University does not clear its cost — it ranks #23 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) | $19,809/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $79,236 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $41,109 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$7,251/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $36,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$224,256 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Grambling State University's own numbers. Net price $19,809 × 4 years = $79,236 total. Median earnings $41,109 fall $7,251 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 $79,236 bill in about 7.9 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Grambling State University students graduate with?
A median $36,500 in federal loans among completers, or 89% of the $41,109 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Grambling State University students graduate?
36% finish their degree — 64% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $79,236 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $220,100 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Grambling State University expensive compared with other Louisiana colleges?
Its $19,809 net price runs $5,915 above the $13,895 median across the 52 Louisiana colleges we profile, or $23,658 more across the full degree.