Louisiana Tech University combines affordable technical education with reliable career outcomes, making it an excellent value for students focused on engineering and applied sciences.
The university's selective approach ensures strong graduation rates and solid long-term earnings for students who complete demanding STEM programs.
Louisiana Tech University delivers reliable technical education with strong financial outcomes for graduates. While the university serves a more selective student population—with about 21% receiving Pell Grants and 31% being first-generation students—it consistently produces graduates who achieve solid long-term earnings and manageable debt levels. The institution's focus on engineering, computer science, and applied sciences creates clear pathways to stable, well-paying careers.
Graduates earn a median of $52,279 ten years after enrollment, placing Louisiana Tech in the 59th percentile nationally for earnings outcomes. The university's strength lies in its technical programs, where mechanical engineering, computer science, and related fields regularly produce graduates earning well above the institutional median. Net prices remain affordable across income levels, with low-income students paying about $8,529 annually and middle-income families seeing costs around $11,846.
As a medium-sized public university in Louisiana, Louisiana Tech combines the focused attention of a smaller institution with the resources and program breadth needed to support strong technical education. The university's "Selective Achievers" designation reflects its ability to deliver solid outcomes for the students it enrolls, particularly in high-demand STEM fields where employer recruitment remains strong.
Louisiana Tech's program portfolio reflects its technical mission, with engineering and computer science driving the strongest financial outcomes. Mechanical Engineering combines high enrollment with excellent earnings, graduating 78 students annually who earn around $63,600—making it both popular and financially rewarding. Computer Science produces 63 graduates per year earning about $53,810, demonstrating the university's strength in high-demand technology fields.
Biology represents the largest single program with 106 graduates, though early-career earnings of $20,140 reflect the field's typical requirement for graduate school or additional training. Business Administration graduates 88 students annually with median earnings of $37,748, providing a solid foundation for management and entrepreneurship careers. The university's technical focus means that engineering and computer science programs consistently deliver the strongest immediate financial returns.
What sets Louisiana Tech apart is its concentration in applied sciences and engineering fields that lead directly to employment. The university's medium size allows for focused attention on technical programs while maintaining the resources needed for hands-on learning and industry partnerships. This approach creates reliable pathways from classroom to career, particularly in Louisiana's growing technology and manufacturing sectors.
Louisiana Tech University graduates achieve solid long-term financial outcomes, with median earnings of $52,279 ten years after enrollment. This performance places the institution in the 59th percentile nationally, reflecting consistent career preparation that translates into stable employment and competitive salaries. The university's focus on technical fields helps explain these outcomes, as graduates enter industries with strong hiring demand and clear advancement pathways.
Program-level outcomes vary significantly by field of study. Mechanical Engineering stands out as both a high-enrollment and high-return program, graduating 78 students annually with median earnings of $63,600—substantially above the institutional average. Computer Science graduates 63 students per year who earn around $53,810, while Business Administration graduates 88 students annually earning about $37,748. Biology represents the largest single program with 106 graduates, though early-career earnings of $20,140 reflect the field's typical requirement for additional education or training.
The university's technical orientation creates multiple pathways to strong financial outcomes. Engineering programs consistently deliver above-average earnings, while computer science and related technology fields provide graduates with skills that remain in high demand across Louisiana and the broader region. This concentration in applied sciences and engineering helps explain why Louisiana Tech graduates achieve reliable, if not exceptional, long-term financial success.
Louisiana Tech University maintains strong affordability across income levels, making technical education accessible to families throughout Louisiana and beyond. Low-income students pay approximately $8,529 per year after aid, well below national averages for public universities, while middle-income families see annual costs around $11,846. Even higher-income families pay a manageable $15,634 annually, creating predictable pricing that helps families plan over the full course of a degree.
Debt levels remain reasonable for most graduates. Typical students leave with about $22,135 in federal loan debt, a moderate amount that aligns well with the university's solid earnings outcomes. Parent PLUS borrowing averages $13,848, reflecting families' willingness to invest in technical programs that lead to stable career outcomes. The university's 0% federal loan default rate indicates that graduates generally manage their debt obligations successfully, supported by the strong job placement rates typical of engineering and computer science programs.
What makes Louisiana Tech particularly sustainable financially is the combination of moderate upfront costs and reliable post-graduation earnings. With median earnings exceeding $52,000 ten years out, most graduates can handle standard loan repayment without significant strain. The university's focus on practical, career-oriented programs means students typically enter the workforce directly after graduation rather than requiring additional expensive training, helping families see clear returns on their educational investment.
Louisiana Tech University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
