University of New Orleans — ROI, Cost & Payback
University of New Orleans charges a net price of $12,384/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $49,536. Median earnings ten years after entry are $47,872, 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 New Orleans does not clear its cost — it ranks #13 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) | $12,384/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $49,536 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $47,872 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$488/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $18,750 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$59,296 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on University of New Orleans's own numbers. Net price $12,384 × 4 years = $49,536 total. Median earnings $47,872 fall $488 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 $49,536 bill in about 5.0 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do University of New Orleans students graduate with?
A median $18,750 in federal loans among completers, or 39% of the $47,872 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of University of New Orleans students graduate?
38% finish their degree — 62% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $49,536 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $130,358 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is University of New Orleans expensive compared with other Louisiana colleges?
Its $12,384 net price runs $1,511 below the $13,895 median across the 52 Louisiana colleges we profile, and $6,042 less across the full degree.