Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Mcneese State University #502 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,055 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 45.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Mcneese State University #426 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions — reflecting strong outcomes for students from a range of backgrounds. --- Mcneese State University's composite ranking combines strong mobility outcomes with predictable financial returns for students. Graduates see earnings performance that earn about $3,055 less than similar students at comparable institutions, reflecting the institution's focus on career-ready programs in health and related fields.
Azimuth ranks Mcneese State University #502 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Mcneese State University enrolls roughly 5,005 undergraduates. Retention is 68.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 47.0%, reflecting solid conversion of enrollment into degree completion. Mcneese State University delivers strong outcomes for a student population with significant financial need. 34.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 38.5% are first-generation college students. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $53,563, and earn about $3,055 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Mcneese State University in the 45.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Mcneese State University #984 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's program portfolio centers on Health, a field that aligns with Louisiana's healthcare workforce demand and offers graduates stable, accessible career pathways. As a regional master's university, Mcneese State University serves a largely place-bound student population and delivers outcomes that reflect both the institution's educational mission and the economic realities of Southwest Louisiana. Affordability sits in the 80.3 percentile and access in the 68.6 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, anchoring the composite alongside the institution's strong return on investment.
McNeese State University's published cost of attendance is $22,810. Net price by income band reflects the university's public-tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $10,482, middle-income families pay around $11,640, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,250. Azimuth ranks Mcneese State University #281 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. McNeese State participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA. The university's affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry, recognizing that net price and sticker price can differ substantially — though at a public institution like McNeese, the gap between sticker and net price tends to be narrower than at institutions with larger endowments. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $13,410; 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 $53,563, median federal debt of $23,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $260 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
McNeese State University is a strong fit for students interested in health professions who want a regional public university experience in LA, particularly those planning to work in local healthcare systems after graduation. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $53,563, placing Mcneese State University in the 13.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $3,055 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 45.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university serves a significant population of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 34.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 38.5% are first-generation. This cohort achieves completion rates and earnings outcomes that track LA's regional labor market, representing meaningful returns relative to the state's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $30,928. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Health (17% of degrees), and the regional labor market favors local employment over national mobility. Students whose career goals align with these patterns will find strong alignment with Mcneese State University's institutional strengths.
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
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Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Mcneese State 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.
McNeese State University's published cost of attendance is $22,810. Net price by income band reflects the university's public-tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $10,482, middle-income families pay around $11,640, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,250.
Azimuth ranks Mcneese State University #281 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.
McNeese State participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA.
The university's affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry, recognizing that [net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) — though at a public institution like McNeese, the gap between sticker and net price tends to be narrower than at institutions with larger endowments. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $13,410; 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 $53,563, median federal debt of $23,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $260 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 Mcneese State University earn median 4-year earnings of $53,563, placing Mcneese State University in the 13.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs below the $56,249 median at comparable institutions.
Graduates earn about $3,055 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Mcneese State University in the 45.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Mcneese State University #984 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
These figures represent lifetime returns relative to LA's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $30,928 (the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential). The earnings pattern centers on health and allied health fields, which align with Mcneese State University's dominant program concentration.
Nursing is the largest program with 134 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $85,928, performing at 1.0× the national benchmark for the field. The General Studies program graduates 112 students earning $45,669, and the The Business Administration program graduates 90 students earning $60,532.
Kinesiology and Biology, General round out the institution's largest programs, each contributing to the overall earnings profile. The concentration in Health fields reflects both the institution's academic focus and the regional labor market demand for skilled professionals in these sectors.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Suny College Of Technology At Canton Similar quality tier (#15555 ranked) | NY | 92% | $47,860 | #15555 | Compare |
Indiana University-Kokomo Similar quality tier (#15556 ranked) | IN | 86% | $49,917 | #15556 | Compare |
University Of Wisconsin-La Crosse Similar quality tier (#15548 ranked) | WI | 76% | $60,378 | #15548 | Compare |
University Of Southern Maine Similar quality tier (#15546 ranked) | ME | 79% | $49,958 | #15546 | Compare |
University Of Pittsburgh-Johnstown Similar quality tier (#15561 ranked) | PA | 95% | $66,125 | #15561 | Compare |
Engineering, General
32 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
134 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
27 graduates
Computer Science
28 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
18 graduates
Mcneese State University's program mix is anchored in health sciences and applied professional fields, reflecting the institution's regional mission as a comprehensive public university serving Louisiana's Gulf Coast. Nursing is the largest program with 134 graduates, followed by General Studies, Business Administration, Kinesiology, and Biology, General.
Across 29 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with particular strength in health-related and business-oriented fields that align with local and regional labor-market demand. The institution's earnings leaders reflect its health-sciences focus.
Engineering graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $107,319 with 32 graduates, while Nursing delivers median earnings of $85,928 and Business Administration reaches $60,532. Kinesiology and General Studies round out the highest-earning programs with median 4-year earnings of $51,257 and $45,669 respectively.
These programs serve 1,014 students annually across the institution. Several of these programs represent high-mobility direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter regional and national labor markets immediately—particularly in nursing, business administration, and applied health fields where employers actively recruit.
Others, including biology and chemistry-related programs, are grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount the trajectory of graduates who continue to graduate or professional school. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Mcneese State University's dominant program families align with current labor-market demand in healthcare and professional services sectors.
