University of Louisiana at Lafayette vs Southeastern Louisiana University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Louisiana at Lafayette comes closer — median earnings $47,089 against a $54,120 total, vs $46,482 at Southeastern Louisiana University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | Southeastern Louisiana University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,530 | $13,154 |
| Total net cost | $54,120 | $52,616 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,089 | $46,482 |
| Median debt | $22,902 | $22,113 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$79,540 | -$90,176 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Louisiana at Lafayette or Southeastern Louisiana University?
Southeastern Louisiana University, at $13,154 a year after aid versus $13,530 — a gap of $376 a year, or $1,504 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do University of Louisiana at Lafayette or Southeastern Louisiana University graduates earn more?
University of Louisiana at Lafayette graduates report a median $47,089 ten years after entry, $607 more than the $46,482 at Southeastern Louisiana University. 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, University of Louisiana at Lafayette or Southeastern Louisiana University?
Southeastern Louisiana University: its completers carry a median $22,113 in federal loans versus $22,902 at University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a difference of $789. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
53% of students finish at University of Louisiana at Lafayette, against 45% at Southeastern Louisiana University. 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.