Baton Rouge Community College vs Southern University at New Orleans: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Baton Rouge Community College comes closer — median earnings $34,581 against a $37,896 total, vs $34,042 at Southern University at New Orleans. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Baton Rouge Community College | Southern University at New Orleans |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,474 | $14,810 |
| Total net cost | $37,896 | $59,240 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,581 | $34,042 |
| Median debt | $12,450 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$313,476 | -$345,600 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Baton Rouge Community College or Southern University at New Orleans?
Baton Rouge Community College, at $9,474 a year after aid versus $14,810 — a gap of $5,336 a year, or $21,344 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Baton Rouge Community College or Southern University at New Orleans graduates earn more?
Baton Rouge Community College graduates report a median $34,581 ten years after entry, $539 more than the $34,042 at Southern University at New Orleans. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Baton Rouge Community College or Southern University at New Orleans?
Baton Rouge Community College: its completers carry a median $12,450 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Southern University at New Orleans, a difference of $18,550. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
31% of students finish at Baton Rouge Community College, against 13% at Southern University at New Orleans. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.