Louisiana Tech University
#1 Best Colleges in Louisiana- Graduation Rate
- 61% C+
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $52,279 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $11,864 B-
- 31% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 86% D+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 26.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $26.4 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Colleges in Louisiana.
Every $1 spent returns $26.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,206,862.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Earnings 28% above the national college median.
-
Every $1 invested returns $26.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.4%
- Top 58%
- Patents
- 51
- Linked to graduates
- World Rank
- #401-500
- Times Higher Education
- Patent Citations
- 39
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 28/100
- Times Higher Education
Why Louisiana Tech University Matters
Louisiana Tech University is a public research university in Ruston, LA ranked #401-500 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and low net price paired with solid completion. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 8,312
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Engineering, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Louisiana Tech University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 86% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1100–1310. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $11,864 a year after grants and scholarships — 31% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $52,279 ten years after enrolling — 28% above the typical college, against $22,135 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 30% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.48 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of 8,312 students, Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana, stands out as a welcoming option for those seeking a supportive environment. It’s particularly suited for individuals interested in practical fields such as Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Engineering, and Computer Science. The acceptance rate of 86% indicates that many students can find a place here, making it accessible for a diverse range of applicants.
After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $52,279 within ten years. This figure highlights the potential for upward mobility in key fields, especially for those who engage with the university's strong programs. Affordability is also a consideration, as many students find Louisiana Tech to be a financially manageable choice, despite the varying financial backgrounds of its students.
When it comes to the bottom line, the average net price after aid stands at $11,864, making it relatively affordable compared to many institutions. With a median debt of $22,135, graduates leave with a manageable financial burden. Students who thrive here typically demonstrate a proactive approach to their education, taking advantage of the resources and opportunities available to them to build successful careers.
Rankings
- #1 Best Colleges in Louisiana
- #1 Best Bachelor's Programs in Louisiana
- #1 Best Master's Programs in Louisiana
- #1 Best Online Colleges in Louisiana
- #1 Best Computer Science Colleges in Louisiana
- #1 Best Data Science Colleges in Louisiana
- #2 Best Business Colleges in Louisiana
- #3 Best Nursing Colleges in Louisiana
Can I Get In?
How selective Louisiana Tech University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Louisiana Tech University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Louisiana Tech University, located in Ruston, Louisiana, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 86%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,191. The graduation rate is roughly 61%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 86%
- Retention Rate
- 82%
- SAT Average
- 1191
- ACT Midpoint
- 25
- SAT Range
- 1100–1310
- ACT Range
- 21–27
- Full-Time Faculty
- 66%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,177
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 23:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.46
- First-Gen Students
- 31%
- Applicants
- 7,595
- Admitted
- 4,737
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2025-26
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Louisiana Tech University is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 7% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 7%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 2%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 30%
- of enrolled freshmen
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 32% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Louisiana Tech University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Louisiana Tech University is $16,866, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $11,864. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,676 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,135 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $10,125
- Out-of-State
- $16,866
- Avg Net Price
- $11,864
- Median Debt
- $22,135
- Pell Grant Rate
- 22%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 27%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,676
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,619
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $11,146
- Family Income $110K+
- $16,207
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Louisiana Tech University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Louisiana Tech University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Louisiana Tech University earn a median of $52,279, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $44,903
- 8 Years
- $48,864
- 10 Years
- $52,279
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.42x
- Earning > $25K
- 67%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (728)
- 42%
- 100% (728)
- 42%
- 100% (728)
- 42%
- 100% (728)
- 42%
How Louisiana Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Louisiana Tech University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Louisiana Tech University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $11,864/year ($47,456 total). Graduates earn $52,279 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,254,318 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,206,862 (26.4× your investment). The median debt is $22,135, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 61% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $47,456
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,254,318
- Net Return
- $1,206,862
- ROI Multiple
- 26.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $11,864
- Median Debt
- $22,135
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 61%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Louisiana Tech University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Louisiana Tech University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.96%, well above the typical college. About 8.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 22% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $84,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.96%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 22.0%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 8.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $114,806
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Louisiana Tech University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 51 patents tied to its graduates, and ranks among research universities with a 28/100 research score.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.37%
- Top 58% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 51
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 39
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 28/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 38/100
- Citation impact (THE)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $7,036,887
- Investment Income
- $-10,404,123
Top Programs
The fields Louisiana Tech University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 18% $55,456 early-career
- Health Professions 18% $68,105 early-career
- Engineering 13% $91,256 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 6% $63,937 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 6% $23,930 early-career
- Psychology 4% $26,713 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 3% $31,588 early-career
- Transportation 2% $52,703 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Louisiana Tech University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Louisiana Tech University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Louisiana Tech University, located in Ruston, Louisiana, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 86%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,191. The graduation rate is roughly 61%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Louisiana Tech University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Louisiana Tech University is $16,866, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $11,864. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,676 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,135 in federal student loans.
Is Louisiana Tech University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Louisiana Tech University earn a median of $52,279, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Louisiana Tech University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Louisiana Tech University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.96%, well above the typical college. About 8.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 22% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $84,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Louisiana Tech University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Louisiana Tech University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.48, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is Louisiana Tech University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places Louisiana Tech University at #401-500 worldwide. Its profile spans a research score of 28/100, teaching at 27/100, and citation impact of 38/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Does Louisiana Tech University offer Early Decision?
No. Louisiana Tech University does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2025-26 Common Data Set).
Is Louisiana Tech University really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 32% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at Louisiana Tech University (2025-26 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Louisiana Tech University?
About 7% of admitted students choose to enroll at Louisiana Tech University — its yield rate (2025-26 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Louisiana Tech University.
- Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondale, IL · Close peer59% grad $53,390 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWhitewater, WI · Close peer62% grad $55,356 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Cleveland State UniversityCleveland, OH · Close peer50% grad $52,131 earn 91% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Stephen F Austin State UniversityNacogdoches, TX · Close peer53% grad $49,634 earn 94% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Wisconsin-Green BayGreen Bay, WI · Close peer50% grad $52,528 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointStevens Point, WI · Close peer53% grad $52,021 earn 92% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Louisiana Tech University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Louisiana Tech University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.48, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note