Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Louisiana Tech University #426 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $61,520, placing Louisiana Tech University in the 51.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Louisiana Tech University sits in the 61.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Louisiana Tech University #669 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Louisiana Tech University's composite ranking reflects a consistent pattern of strong graduate earnings relative to cost — a combination that positions this Louisiana public university competitively among four-year institutions nationwide. The return on investment ranking anchors that story, supported by median earnings that place graduates well above the midpoint among comparable institutions in the Azimuth coverage set.
Azimuth ranks Louisiana Tech University #426 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Ruston, LA, Louisiana Tech University enrolls roughly 8,312 undergraduates. Freshman retention runs at 82.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 63.8%, reflecting a student body that largely completes what it starts. The composite is anchored in return on investment. Azimuth ranks Louisiana Tech University #669 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $61,520 and earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Louisiana Tech University in the 61.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program family is Business, which drives a meaningful share of that earnings performance and shapes the institution's career-placement profile across the region. Access and mobility sit lower in the composite. Louisiana Tech University sits in the 41.4 percentile for access and the 77.8 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a student population that skews toward LA residents and regional labor markets. Affordability lands in the 82.3 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, shaped by in-state tuition pricing and the cost structure typical of regional public universities in the South. Together, these pillars position Louisiana Tech University as a strong-value option for students who prioritize earnings outcomes and manageable costs over broad national mobility reach.
Louisiana Tech University's published cost of attendance is $24,280. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $7,676, middle-income families pay around $11,146, and higher-income families pay approximately $16,207. Azimuth ranks Louisiana Tech University #253 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. Louisiana Tech's tuition structure as a public research university keeps sticker price moderate relative to private institutions, and need-based aid further reduces costs for qualifying families. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs to help close the gap between published cost and what families actually pay. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,135, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,071; 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 $61,520, median federal debt of $22,135 projects to a monthly payment of about $250 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Louisiana Tech University is a strong fit for students in LA and the surrounding region who are drawn to Business, engineering, and applied professional fields, and who want a public university experience that delivers solid long-term financial outcomes without the cost of higher-priced institutions. Graduates earn in the 51.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Louisiana Tech University sits in the 61.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for students weighing long-term return on investment. The access profile is broad. 21.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 31.2% are first-generation college students, and the institution's net price structure and median debt of $22,135 make it a realistic option for cost-sensitive families across income levels. Fit depends on two realistic filters: program interests should align with Louisiana Tech University's strengths in Business and technical fields, and students who plan to stay and work in South will find the most direct labor-market alignment with what the university delivers.
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 Tech University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Engineering, Other
25 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
45 graduates
Chemical Engineering
28 graduates
Computer Science
50 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
83 graduates
Louisiana Tech University's program mix is anchored in business, engineering, and applied-technology fields — a signature consistent with its identity as a public research university serving northwest Louisiana and the broader regional workforce. Business-oriented programs form the dominant concentration, with engineering and technology disciplines rounding out a portfolio oriented toward direct-to-workforce outcomes.
Across 48 programs, 30 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, collectively serving roughly 1,508 students annually. The highest aggregate-return program at Louisiana Tech University is Biology, General, which combines meaningful cohort scale with strong median earnings four years after enrollment — making it a central driver of the institution's overall financial outcomes.
Among the most popular programs, Biology, General program graduates 132 students with median earnings of $59,671 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #72 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mechanical Engineering and Business Administration also enroll large cohorts of 83 and 77 graduates respectively, with median earnings of $92,457 and $60,949 four years after enrollment.
The strongest early-career earnings at Louisiana Tech University come from its applied engineering and technology programs. Mechanical Engineering leads on median earnings, with graduates earning $92,457 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks it #85 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician follows closely, with median earnings of $77,558 four years after enrollment and an Azimuth rank of #31 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These programs represent high-mobility, direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect genuine labor-market outcomes.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these engineering and applied-technology fields align with national hiring trends.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eastern Kentucky University Similar quality tier (#15274 ranked) | KY | 78% | $45,795 | #15274 | Compare |
Indiana University-South Bend Similar quality tier (#15270 ranked) | IN | 84% | $44,947 | #15270 | Compare |
Ramapo College Of New Jersey Similar quality tier (#15280 ranked) | NJ | 71% | $67,541 | #15280 | Compare |
Southeastern Louisiana University Similar quality tier in Southwest (#15265 ranked) | LA | 99% | $46,482 | #15265 | Compare |
University Of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Similar quality tier (#15284 ranked) | PA | 58% | $66,125 | #15284 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Louisiana Tech University's published cost of attendance is $24,280. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $7,676, middle-income families pay around $11,146, and higher-income families pay approximately $16,207.
Azimuth ranks Louisiana Tech University #253 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.
Louisiana Tech's tuition structure as a public research university keeps sticker price moderate relative to private institutions, and need-based aid further reduces costs for qualifying families. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs to help close the gap between published cost and what families actually pay.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,135, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,071; 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 $61,520, median federal debt of $22,135 projects to a monthly payment of about $250 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 earn median 4-year earnings of $61,520, placing Louisiana Tech University in the 51.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Louisiana Tech University in the 61.6 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Louisiana Tech University #669 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Louisiana Tech University also sits in the 58.2 percentile for median low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a [historical 10-year Scorecard measure](/analysis/college-scorecard-2026-4-year-vs-10-year-earnings-2-2/) not yet updated to the four-year horizon, with low-income graduates earning median earnings of $45,100.
The program lineup at Louisiana Tech University is anchored by Business, which forms the largest share of degree output. Biology, General stands out as the program combining strong cohort scale with competitive four-year earnings.
Azimuth ranks Biology, General #72 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-evaluate-programs/), with 132 graduates earning median four-year earnings of $59,671 — 1.0x the national benchmark for the field. Azimuth ranks Mechanical Engineering #85 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 83 graduates earning $92,457 and a benchmark ratio of 1.0x.
Business Administration and Psychology, General round out the higher-earning tier, with Azimuth ranking Business Administration #264 among nonprofit four-year institutions (77 graduates, $60,949 median four-year earnings) and Psychology, General #340 among nonprofit four-year institutions (64 graduates, $37,473). For graduates whose outcomes fall below the institution median, Louisiana's no-degree earnings baseline of $30,928 provides context for the floor that a Louisiana Tech University degree clears across most program pathways.
