Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College #80 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $66,893, placing Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College in the 71.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College sits in the 62.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting graduate outcomes that outpace what similar students earn at comparable institutions. --- Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College's composite ranking reflects a broad balance of return, access, and affordability that positions it among the stronger public research universities in the Azimuth coverage set. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $66,893 and earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, a combination that underscores the university's ability to deliver competitive financial outcomes for students across its diverse program mix.
Azimuth ranks Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College #80 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Baton Rouge, LA, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College enrolls roughly 30,594 undergraduates. Retention stands at 84.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 68.8%, figures that reflect a large flagship-scale institution converting enrollment into degree completion at rates above the national median for comparable universities. The composite is shaped by solid return on investment and strong mobility outcomes. Azimuth ranks Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College #405 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College in the 62.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business is the dominant program family, anchoring a broad degree portfolio that also spans engineering, education, and the health sciences. Mobility sits in the 97.2 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, supported by a student body where 26.6% receive Pell Grants and 26.6% are first-generation college students. Access sits in the 84.0 percentile and affordability in the 62.4 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions — the admission rate of 73.3% reflects a broad-access posture, though net price dynamics across income bands temper the affordability score. For families weighing long-term financial outcomes against upfront cost, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College offers a combination of scale, program breadth, and earnings performance worth examining closely through Azimuth's composite view of ROI.
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College publishes a cost of attendance of $34,705, but need-based aid reshapes what families actually pay. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $13,056, while middle-income families pay around $20,223, and higher-income families pay approximately $26,489. Azimuth ranks Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College #537 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a public flagship, LSU's in-state tuition structure keeps net prices meaningfully below those of many comparable institutions, particularly for students who qualify for need-based aid. 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. Louisiana State University participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, including Pell Grants, Direct Loans, and Louisiana's state scholarship programs, which can substantially reduce out-of-pocket costs for qualifying residents. The gap between sticker price and net price can be significant — particularly for low- and middle-income families — and the net price illusion is worth understanding before drawing conclusions from the published cost of attendance alone. Families are encouraged to use the net price calculator and review their full aid award before making enrollment decisions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $25,645; 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 $66,893, median federal debt of $20,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $232 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is a strong fit for students drawn to business, applied sciences, and professional fields who want a large public research university experience in Baton Rouge, LA, with a program portfolio oriented toward regional and national employer demand. Graduates earn median $66,893 four years after enrollment, placing Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College in the 71.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — and graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 62.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access picture is broad. 26.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 26.6% are first-generation students, and Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College sits in the 92.0 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon — suggesting that students from lower-income backgrounds have historically converted their degree into competitive long-run earnings. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Business and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, and the university's large public-flagship scale suits students who thrive in a research-university environment rather than a smaller, more specialized setting.
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 Louisiana State University And Agricultural & Mechanical College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Chemical Engineering
82 graduates
Computer Engineering
22 graduates
Petroleum Engineering
45 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
103 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
69 graduates
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College's program mix is anchored in Business, which accounts for 22% of graduates, followed by Engineering at 12% and Education at 9%. That business-heavy concentration reflects the university's land-grant identity and its deep ties to regional industries in energy, agriculture, construction, and professional services.
Across 63 programs serving roughly 4,989 students annually, 48 meet Azimuth's [program-ranking threshold](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with several earning strong national positions. The highest-earning programs skew toward applied and technical fields.
Construction Management leads with median earnings of $91,660 four years after enrollment from a cohort of 232 graduates, and Azimuth ranks the program #7 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business Administration follows at $64,590 with 221 graduates, and Subject-Specific Teacher Education produces 366 graduates earning $61,045.
On the enrollment side, Subject-Specific Teacher Education is the largest program with 366 graduates earning $61,045, and Azimuth ranks it #8 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The Biology, General program graduates 334 students with median earnings of $56,019, and the The Communication and The Media Studies program graduates 333 students earning $55,245.
Several of these programs channel graduates directly into the workforce — construction management, nursing, and accounting are high-mobility pathways where four-year earnings closely reflect labor-market outcomes. Fields like Construction Management and Business Administration, by contrast, are more likely grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount the full trajectory for students who continue to graduate or professional school.
The [supply-demand map](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College's strongest program families align with national labor-market demand. ```
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wayne State University Similar quality tier (#4187 ranked) | MI | 81% | $53,493 | #4187 | Compare |
University Of Virginia-Main Campus Similar quality tier (#4184 ranked) | VA | 17% | $86,863 | #4184 | Compare |
University Of Houston-Downtown Similar quality tier in Southwest (#4183 ranked) | TX | 90% | $53,551 | #4183 | Compare |
University Of Wisconsin-Madison Similar quality tier (#4188 ranked) | WI | 45% | $73,792 | #4188 | Compare |
University Of Nevada-Las Vegas Similar quality tier in Southwest (#4180 ranked) | NV | 96% | $55,037 | #4180 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College publishes a cost of attendance of $34,705, but need-based aid reshapes what families actually pay. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $13,056, while middle-income families pay around $20,223, and higher-income families pay approximately $26,489.
Azimuth ranks Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College #537 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a public flagship, LSU's in-state tuition structure keeps net prices meaningfully below those of many comparable institutions, particularly for students who qualify for need-based aid.
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. Louisiana State University participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, including Pell Grants, Direct Loans, and Louisiana's state scholarship programs, which can substantially reduce out-of-pocket costs for qualifying residents.
The gap between sticker price and net price can be significant — particularly for low- and middle-income families — and the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) is worth understanding before drawing conclusions from the published cost of attendance alone. Families are encouraged to use the net price calculator and review their full aid award before making enrollment decisions.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $25,645; 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 $66,893, median federal debt of $20,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $232 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/).
Graduates of Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College earn median earnings of $66,893 four years after enrollment, placing Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College in the 71.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 62.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures still represent lifetime returns relative to LA's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $30,928 (the state median earnings of working adults without a bachelor's degree).
The earnings pattern at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College reflects a Business-leaning program mix, with Business accounting for 22% of degrees, followed by Engineering at 12% and Education at 9%. Subject-Specific Teacher Education combines high enrollment with solid pay, making it a key contributor to the institution's overall earnings profile.
Azimuth ranks Subject-Specific Teacher Education #8 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 366 graduates earning median earnings of $61,045. The Biology, General program graduates 334 students with median earnings of $56,019, and Azimuth ranks Communication and Media Studies #131 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 333 graduates earning median earnings of $55,245.
Among the highest-earning programs, Construction Management (232 graduates, median earnings of $91,660) and Business Administration (221 graduates, median earnings of $64,590) offer substantial early-career salary upside.
