Southern University at New Orleans vs Blue Cliff College-Metairie: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Southern University at New Orleans comes closer — median earnings $34,042 against a $59,240 total, vs $22,177 at Blue Cliff College-Metairie. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southern University at New Orleans | Blue Cliff College-Metairie |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,810 | $9,863 |
| Total net cost | $59,240 | $39,452 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,042 | $22,177 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$345,600 | -$563,112 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Southern University at New Orleans or Blue Cliff College-Metairie?
Blue Cliff College-Metairie, at $9,863 a year after aid versus $14,810 — a gap of $4,947 a year, or $19,788 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Southern University at New Orleans or Blue Cliff College-Metairie graduates earn more?
Southern University at New Orleans graduates report a median $34,042 ten years after entry, $11,865 more than the $22,177 at Blue Cliff College-Metairie. 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, Southern University at New Orleans or Blue Cliff College-Metairie?
Blue Cliff College-Metairie: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Southern University at New Orleans, a difference of $21,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
56% of students finish at Blue Cliff College-Metairie, 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.