Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of Louisiana At Lafayette #168 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $58,638, placing University of Louisiana At Lafayette in the 38.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of Louisiana At Lafayette sits in the 68.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting graduate outcomes that outpace what similar students earn at comparable institutions. University of Louisiana At Lafayette's composite standing reflects a balance of return, access, and mobility working together — graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $58,638 and earn about $2,499 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a combination that positions the university as a strong-value option among Louisiana public institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Louisiana At Lafayette #723 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, anchored by a health-focused program mix that channels graduates into stable, in-demand careers.
Azimuth ranks University of Louisiana At Lafayette #168 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Lafayette, LA, University of Louisiana At Lafayette enrolls roughly 12,428 undergraduates. Retention stands at 74.3% and the six-year graduation rate is 52.6%, figures that reflect steady degree completion for a broad-access research institution with an admission rate of 87.0%. What anchors University of Louisiana At Lafayette in the composite is mobility. The university sits in the 90.6 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, driven by a student body where 41.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 38.5% are first-generation college students. Health is the dominant program family, and graduates earn about $2,499 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Louisiana At Lafayette in the 68.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $58,638, placing University of Louisiana At Lafayette in the 38.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Return on investment is the lower-ranked pillar in the composite — Azimuth ranks University of Louisiana At Lafayette #723 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 51.2 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 78.5 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, and access sits in the 87.8 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings figures reflect LA's regional labor market and a student population whose post-graduation outcomes represent meaningful returns relative to the no-degree-equivalent baseline of $30,928, even where they fall below selective-peer averages.
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette prices accessibly across the income spectrum. Low-income families pay approximately $11,157 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $13,692, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at around $18,562. Azimuth ranks University of Louisiana At Lafayette #307 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a public university in Louisiana, University of Louisiana At Lafayette benefits from in-state tuition structures that keep headline costs well below those of comparable private institutions, and the gap between published cost and what most families actually pay reflects a meaningful net price illusion that works in students' favor here. Need-based aid reaches a broad share of the student body, with Pell-eligible students seeing some of the lowest net prices in the coverage set. The university participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and Louisiana's state grant programs supplement federal Pell Grants for qualifying residents, further compressing out-of-pocket costs for low- and middle-income families. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,902, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $13,655; 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 $58,638, median federal debt of $22,902 projects to a monthly payment of about $259 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of Louisiana At Lafayette is a strong fit for students in LA and the surrounding region who are drawn to health, applied sciences, and professional fields and want a public university that delivers solid post-graduation earnings without the cost of higher-priced private institutions. Graduates earn about $2,499 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Louisiana At Lafayette in the 68.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $58,638, placing University of Louisiana At Lafayette in the 38.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a substantial share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 41.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 38.5% are first-generation — and University of Louisiana At Lafayette sits in the 52.1 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. For cost-sensitive families, median student debt at graduation is $22,902, and higher-income families pay a net price of approximately $18,562. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Health and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, and the admission rate of 87.0% means the university is broadly accessible to most qualified applicants in the region.
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 University Of Louisiana At Lafayette 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.
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette prices accessibly across the income spectrum. Low-income families pay approximately $11,157 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $13,692, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at around $18,562.
Azimuth ranks University of Louisiana At Lafayette #307 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a public university in Louisiana, University of Louisiana At Lafayette benefits from in-state tuition structures that keep headline costs well below those of comparable private institutions, and the gap between published cost and what most families actually pay reflects a meaningful [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) that works in students' favor here.
Need-based aid reaches a broad share of the student body, with Pell-eligible students seeing some of the lowest net prices in the coverage set. The university participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and Louisiana's state grant programs supplement federal Pell Grants for qualifying residents, further compressing out-of-pocket costs for low- and middle-income families.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,902, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $13,655; 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 $58,638, median federal debt of $22,902 projects to a monthly payment of about $259 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 University of Louisiana At Lafayette earn median earnings of $58,638 four years after enrollment, placing University of Louisiana At Lafayette in the 38.7 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 about $2,499 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 68.4 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 age 25–34 with only a high school credential.
The program mix at University of Louisiana At Lafayette is anchored in Health, which accounts for 14% of degrees, followed by Education at 9% and Engineering at 8%. Nursing combines strong enrollment with solid earnings, making it a key contributor to the university's overall return profile.
Azimuth ranks Nursing #65 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 383 graduates earning median earnings of $91,270 — 1.0x the national benchmark for the field. The General Studies program graduates 297 students with median earnings of $45,010, and Azimuth ranks Subject-Specific Teacher Education #31 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 137 graduates earning $53,265.
While institution-level earnings track LA's regional labor market, specific programs deliver materially stronger outcomes for students who choose them.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Central Connecticut State University Similar quality tier (#4336 ranked) | CT | 73% | $58,562 | #4336 | Compare |
University Of Mississippi Similar quality tier (#4335 ranked) | MS | 97% | $50,994 | #4335 | Compare |
The University Of Texas At Tyler Similar quality tier in Southwest (#4332 ranked) | TX | 94% | $57,053 | #4332 | Compare |
University Of South Carolina-Columbia Similar quality tier (#4331 ranked) | SC | 60% | $62,177 | #4331 | Compare |
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro Similar quality tier (#4376 ranked) | NC | 89% | $48,160 | #4376 | Compare |
Petroleum Engineering
21 graduates
Chemical Engineering
45 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
383 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
85 graduates
Civil Engineering
30 graduates
University of Louisiana At Lafayette's program mix is anchored in Health, with meaningful enrollment across business, engineering, and liberal arts fields. Business accounts for 14% of graduates, Education accounts for 9%, and Engineering accounts for 8%.
Across 44 programs serving roughly 2,571 students annually, 33 meet Azimuth's [program-ranking threshold](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). The strongest earnings outcomes concentrate in health and applied-technical fields.
Azimuth ranks Nursing #65 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with 383 graduates earning $91,270. Mechanical Engineering ranks #110 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $91,187, and Computer Science ranks #153 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $83,527.
The largest programs by cohort size — General Studies (297 graduates, $45,010), Subject-Specific Teacher Education (137 graduates, $53,265), and Business Administration (137 graduates, $53,473) — show a range of early-career outcomes. Health and nursing programs feed directly into Louisiana's regional labor market, while business and engineering graduates enter broader workforce pipelines.
The [supply-demand map](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with national hiring trends.
