Graduate earnings are in line with similar institutions.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
University of Louisiana at Lafayette graduates experience steady earnings growth throughout their early careers. Median earnings increase from $42,668 six years after enrollment to $44,392 at eight years and reach $47,089 at ten years, representing 10.4% growth from the six-year mark.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings fall below the peer average for similar institutions.
Financial justification for the investment.
Healthy debt burden. Most graduates can manage $22,902 in debt with typical earnings.
University of Louisiana at Lafayette graduates carry median debt of $22,902, positioned around the national average at the 50th percentile for debt levels. Debt ranges from $5,500 at the 25th percentile to $23,262 at the 75th percentile, indicating that most students borrow moderate amounts.
University of Louisiana at Lafayette ranks at the 58.9th percentile for return on investment, reflecting above average performance in translating educational costs into career outcomes. The university generates $5,946 in earnings beyond expectations, ranking at the 76.9th percentile nationally for value-added performance.
Approximately 27.3% of University of Louisiana at Lafayette graduates continue to graduate or professional school, based on program mix analysis with ...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Engineering and health programs drive University of Louisiana at Lafayette's strongest earnings outcomes, with Mechanical Engineering graduates earning $80,330 and Adult Health Nurse/Nursing graduates earning $74,756. Computer Science graduates earn $74,787, while Chemical Engineering graduates earn $78,642, demonstrating consistent strength in technical fields.
In contrast, General Studies graduates earn $35,108 and Psychology graduates earn $36,916, reflecting typical patterns across these disciplines. The program diversity enables different student populations to pursue career paths aligned with their interests and aptitudes, while the technical programs provide pathways to higher earnings for students with appropriate preparation and interests.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
The earnings distribution at University of Louisiana at Lafayette spans from $29,444 at the 25th percentile to $69,312 at the 75th percentile, creating a 2.4:1 ratio that reflects meaningful variation in graduate outcomes. Low-income graduates earn $43,900, demonstrating the university's effectiveness in producing positive outcomes for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
