University of Louisiana at Lafayette — ROI, Cost & Payback
University of Louisiana at Lafayette charges a net price of $13,530/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $54,120. Median earnings ten years after entry are $47,089, 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, University of Louisiana at Lafayette does not clear its cost — it ranks #14 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) | $13,530/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $54,120 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $47,089 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$1,271/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $22,902 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$79,540 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on University of Louisiana at Lafayette's own numbers. Net price $13,530 × 4 years = $54,120 total. Median earnings $47,089 fall $1,271 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 $54,120 bill in about 5.4 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do University of Louisiana at Lafayette students graduate with?
A median $22,902 in federal loans among completers, or 49% of the $47,089 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of University of Louisiana at Lafayette students graduate?
53% finish their degree — 47% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $54,120 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $102,113 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is University of Louisiana at Lafayette expensive compared with other Louisiana colleges?
Its $13,530 net price runs $365 below the $13,895 median across the 52 Louisiana colleges we profile, and $1,458 less across the full degree.