Baton Rouge, LA · Private University
Is Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$61,251
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$11,954
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$28,631
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$114,524
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
2.14x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
4.4 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
71.0%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$20,500
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$20,015
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College graduates earn $16,251 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College ranked by graduate earnings
123 graduates
79 graduates
125 graduates
104 graduates
185 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings — your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, the gap between the highest-earning major (Chemical Engineering: $99,522) and the lowest (Apparel and Textiles: $26,004) is $73,518/yr — bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical EngineeringBest ROI | $99,522 | 3.5x |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $99,262 | 3.5x |
| Mechanical Engineering | $92,171 | 3.2x |
| Petroleum Engineering | $90,741 | 3.2x |
| Construction Management | $83,839 | 2.9x |
| Computer Engineering(1yr data) | $78,915 | 2.8x |
| International Business | $77,958 | 2.7x |
| Civil Engineering | $77,833 | 2.7x |
| Computer Science | $73,686 | 2.6x |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $73,473 | 2.6x |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $71,935 | 2.5x |
| Accounting and Related Services | $71,624 | 2.5x |
| Industrial Engineering(1yr data) | $65,285 | 2.3x |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | $63,980 | 2.2x |
| Architecture | $63,208 | 2.2x |
| Landscape Architecture | $62,645 | 2.2x |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $60,921 | 2.1x |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $59,588 | 2.1x |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $58,601 | 2.0x |
| Interior Architecture | $57,174 | 2.0x |
| Marketing | $57,006 | 2.0x |
| Mathematics | $56,090 | 2.0x |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $55,402 | 1.9x |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $54,654 | 1.9x |
| Political Science and Government | $54,569 | 1.9x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $51,713 | 1.8x |
| Communication and Media Studies | $47,536 | 1.7x |
| Philosophy | $47,253 | 1.6x |
| Psychology, General | $46,979 | 1.6x |
| Nutrition Sciences | $46,395 | 1.6x |
| Natural Resources Management and Policy | $45,706 | 1.6x |
| Sociology | $45,645 | 1.6x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $44,864 | 1.6x |
| History | $43,507 | 1.5x |
| Business/Managerial Economics(1yr data) | $42,491 | 1.5x |
| Animal Sciences | $42,467 | 1.5x |
| Biology, General | $42,375 | 1.5x |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $41,336 | 1.4x |
| English Language and Literature, General | $37,014 | 1.3x |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $33,681 | 1.2x |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $32,728 | 1.1x |
| Anthropology | $32,465 | 1.1x |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $32,029 | 1.1x |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services(1yr data) | $29,539 | 1.0x |
| Apparel and TextilesLowest(1yr data) | $26,004 | 0.9x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
The Bottom Line
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College stands out as a strong financial investment among U.S. colleges. Graduates earn $61,251 10 years after starting — $16,251 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 4.4 years — faster than most colleges.
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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.