Nicholls State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Nicholls State University charges a net price of $12,947/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $51,788. Median earnings ten years after entry are $45,454, 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, Nicholls State University does not clear its cost — it ranks #19 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) | $12,947/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $51,788 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $45,454 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$2,906/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $22,675 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$109,908 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Nicholls State University's own numbers. Net price $12,947 × 4 years = $51,788 total. Median earnings $45,454 fall $2,906 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 $51,788 bill in about 5.2 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Nicholls State University students graduate with?
A median $22,675 in federal loans among completers, or 50% of the $45,454 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Nicholls State University students graduate?
54% finish their degree — 46% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $51,788 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $95,904 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Nicholls State University expensive compared with other Louisiana colleges?
Its $12,947 net price runs $948 below the $13,895 median across the 52 Louisiana colleges we profile, and $3,790 less across the full degree.