Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Dillard University #960 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,831 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Dillard University in the 33.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Dillard University #1260 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Dillard University #960 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in New Orleans, Louisiana, Dillard University enrolls roughly 1,063 undergraduates. The institution maintains a 78.0% freshman retention rate and a 43.3% six-year graduation rate, reflecting steady progress in converting enrollment into degree completion. Dillard University draws strength from its access profile and mission-driven outcomes. 69.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 35.3% are first-generation college students, positioning the institution as a significant pathway for low-income and first-generation learners in the region. Graduates earn about $5,831 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Dillard University in the 33.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Dillard University #1245 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The composite reflects a balanced profile across access, mobility, and return. Dillard University sits in the 93.2 percentile for access and the 14.8 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, demonstrating consistent outcomes for students from underrepresented backgrounds. With Biological Sciences as the dominant program family, the institution anchors its academic portfolio in fields with strong regional labor-market alignment and clear career pathways for graduates entering the New Orleans and broader Gulf Coast workforce.
Dillard University's published cost of attendance is $39,202. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $19,819, middle-income families pay around $23,224, and higher-income families pay approximately $27,019. Azimuth ranks Dillard University #1090 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Dillard University participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, and offers institutional aid to qualifying students. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid packages. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $31,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $23,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $48,421, median federal debt of $31,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $350 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Dillard University is a strong fit for students drawn to the biological sciences and related fields who want a private nonprofit university experience in New Orleans, LA. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $48,421, placing Dillard University in the 9.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,831 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 33.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 69.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 35.3% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Dillard University in the 8.4 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 41.9% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors biology-oriented fields over applied-professional ones. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find meaningful returns relative to LA's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $30,928.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Dillard University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Dillard University's published cost of attendance is $39,202. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $19,819, middle-income families pay around $23,224, and higher-income families pay approximately $27,019.
Azimuth ranks Dillard University #1090 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Dillard University participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, and offers institutional aid to qualifying students. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid packages.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $31,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $23,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $48,421, median federal debt of $31,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $350 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
13 graduates
Criminal Justice and Corrections
29 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
15 graduates
Communication and Media Studies
8 graduates
Public Health
11 graduates
Dillard University's program mix is anchored in the biological sciences, reflecting the institution's identity as a historically Black liberal arts college with deep roots in health-sciences education. Biology, General is the largest program with 30 graduates, followed by Criminal Justice with 29 graduates, Psychology, General, Business Administration with 15 graduates, and Nursing with 13 graduates.
Across 14 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with several delivering strong four-year earnings outcomes. The highest-earning programs at Dillard University cluster in health and applied-science fields.
Nursing graduates earn median four-year earnings of $90,661 with 13 graduates, while Criminal Justice delivers $49,687 with 29 graduates. Business Administration graduates earn $49,546, and Communication and Media Studies reaches $49,103 with 8 graduates.
These outcomes reflect the institution's strength in fields where Dillard University has invested in laboratory infrastructure, clinical partnerships, and faculty expertise aligned with regional healthcare and life-sciences employers. Several of these programs represent grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory because meaningful shares of graduates continue to medical school, graduate programs, or professional certification.
Biology, General and Criminal Justice, in particular, serve as feeders to advanced study in medicine, dentistry, and biomedical research. Direct-to-workforce programs like Nursing and Criminal Justice show how Dillard University graduates who enter the labor market immediately achieve competitive earnings in applied health and science roles.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand in healthcare and life sciences.
Graduates of Dillard University earn median 4-year earnings of $48,421, placing Dillard University in the 9.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Dillard University #1245 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern centers on health sciences and biological fields. Biology, General is the largest program with 30 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $37,061, performing at 0.6x the national benchmark for the field.
The Criminal Justice program graduates 29 students with median 4-year earnings of $49,687, also exceeding its national benchmark. Psychology, General and Business Administration round out the institution's largest cohorts, with Business Administration graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $49,546 at 0.7x benchmark.
The Nursing program graduates 13 students with median 4-year earnings of $90,661, performing at 1.0x the national benchmark. The concentration in health and biological sciences positions Dillard University graduates for durable outcomes in fields with strong employer demand and career stability.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Southern University At New Orleans Higher acceptance rate (19.7 percentage points higher) and located 2 miles away; similar graduate earnings | LA | 60% | $34,042 | Compare |
Louisiana State University-Alexandria Higher acceptance rate (52.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | LA | 93% | $42,205 | Compare |
Bluefield State University Higher acceptance rate (46.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | WV | 87% | $38,217 | Compare |
Southern University And A & M College Same state (76 miles away) (earnings difference: 10.7%) and similar program focus | LA | 50% | $43,371 | Compare |
Southern University And A & M College Same state (76 miles away) (earnings difference: 10.7%) and similar program focus | LA | 50% | $43,371 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marywood University Similar quality tier (#28175 ranked) | PA | 61% | $55,817 | #28175 | Compare |
Mount St. Joseph University Similar quality tier (#28183 ranked) | OH | 59% | $51,509 | #28183 | Compare |
Ohio Dominican University Similar quality tier (#28171 ranked) | OH | 94% | $51,748 | #28171 | Compare |
Harrisburg University Of Science And Technology Similar quality tier (#28167 ranked) | PA | 87% | $52,374 | #28167 | Compare |
Moravian University Similar quality tier (#28166 ranked) | PA | 54% | $61,860 | #28166 | Compare |
