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University of Louisiana at Lafayette

#1 Best Education Colleges in Louisiana
Public Lafayette, LA · Urban · Southeast · 100% data
A- Social Mobility B- Value B- Earnings
Graduation Rate
52% C-
About half of students who start complete their degree
Earnings (10yr)
$47,089 B-
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$13,530 C+
21% less than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
87% D+
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +15% vs avg
Graduation -8% vs avg
Net Price +-21% vs avg
Mobility Top 14%

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 19.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.5 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Education Colleges in Louisiana.

19.5× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $19.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $998,912.

What The Data Says

  1. A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Social mobility rate of 2.71% — an engine of upward economic mobility.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $19.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Economic Footprint

Inventor Rate
0.3%
Top 68%
Patents
57
Linked to graduates
Patent Citations
39
Downstream influence

Why University of Louisiana at Lafayette Matters

University of Louisiana at Lafayette is a public research university in Lafayette, LA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. 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
R1 · Very High Research
Enrollment
12,428
Setting
Urban
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Education

Why students choose University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Top-tier research university
R1 status: undergraduates work alongside leading researchers
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Engine of upward mobility
A strong record of moving students up the income ladder

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C+
Top 39% overall
B-
Earnings
$47,089 median
B-
Value
3.5× net price
C+
Affordability
$13,530/yr net
C-
Graduation
52% graduate
A-
Social Mobility
2.7% climb Q1→Q5
D+
Selectivity
87% admit rate
C
Diversity
0.59 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With an acceptance rate of 87%, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette is a welcoming choice for students seeking a diverse educational experience. It’s particularly appealing for those interested in fields like Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education, and Engineering. This blend of programs means students can find their niche while benefiting from a vibrant campus life that encourages collaboration and community involvement.

Looking at what happens after graduation, students can expect to earn around $47,089 a year a decade after they leave. This figure provides a solid foundation for many graduates, particularly when considering the average net price of attending is $13,530 after financial aid. With 42% of students receiving Pell Grants, affordability is a significant factor that supports many in their educational journey.

When it comes to the practical aspects of attending, the median debt for graduates stands at $22,902. This is manageable for many, especially considering the earning potential that comes with their degrees. Students who thrive here typically embrace the collaborative spirit of the campus, leveraging both their academic programs and the supportive community to build strong foundations for their futures.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective University of Louisiana at Lafayette is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into University of Louisiana at Lafayette? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

University of Louisiana at Lafayette, located in Lafayette, Louisiana, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 87%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,219. The graduation rate is roughly 52%.

Acceptance Rate
87%
Retention Rate
74%
SAT Average
1219
ACT Midpoint
22
SAT Range
1120–1240
ACT Range
23–28
Full-Time Faculty
71%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$8,889
Student–Faculty Ratio
18:1
Diversity Index
0.59
First-Gen Students
38%
Applicants
11,752
Admitted
8,762

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 University of Louisiana at Lafayette? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at University of Louisiana at Lafayette is $24,146, 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 $13,530. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,157 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,902 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$10,418
Out-of-State
$24,146
Avg Net Price
$13,530
Median Debt
$22,902
Pell Grant Rate
42%
Federal Loan Rate
44%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$11,157
Family Income $30K–$48K
$11,283
Family Income $48K–$75K
$13,692
Family Income $110K+
$18,562

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 University of Louisiana at Lafayette — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is University of Louisiana at Lafayette Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of University of Louisiana at Lafayette earn a median of $47,089, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$42,668
8 Years
$44,392
10 Years
$47,089
Debt-to-Earnings
0.49x
Earning > $25K
64%

Earnings Trajectory

$42,668 6yr $44,392 8yr $47,089 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (643)
22%
100% (643)
22%
100% (643)
22%
100% (643)
22%

How University Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation52%Earnings 10yr$47KNet Price$14KRetention74%Median Debt$23KPell Grant Rate42%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$11K$0-30K$11K$30-48K$14K$48-75K$19K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%13.5%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%20.1%MOBILITY2.71%

College ROI Calculator

Is University of Louisiana at Lafayette Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, University of Louisiana at Lafayette delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $13,530/year ($54,120 total). Graduates earn $47,089 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,053,032 in total earnings — a net gain of $998,912 (19.5× your investment). The median debt is $22,902, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 52% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$54,120
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,053,032
Net Return
$998,912
ROI Multiple
19.5×
Cost Per Year
$13,530
Median Debt
$22,902
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
52%

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 University of Louisiana at Lafayette Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

University of Louisiana at Lafayette 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 2.71%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 20.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $75,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
2.71%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
20.1%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
13.5%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$102,986
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is University of Louisiana at Lafayette? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Its economic connectedness score is 1.39, 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 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.39
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.01
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
4.9%
Support Ratio
1.00
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Innovation & Knowledge Creation

Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education

University of Louisiana at Lafayette produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 57 patents tied to its graduates.

Inventor Rate
0.27%
Top 68% nationally
Patents Produced
57
Linked to graduates
Patent Citations
39
Downstream influence
Inventors From Low-Income
0.06%
Bottom-20% families

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Investment Income
$-18,969,000

Top Programs

The fields University of Louisiana at Lafayette 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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into University of Louisiana at Lafayette? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

University of Louisiana at Lafayette, located in Lafayette, Louisiana, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 87%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,219. The graduation rate is roughly 52%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Louisiana at Lafayette? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at University of Louisiana at Lafayette is $24,146, 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 $13,530. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,157 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,902 in federal student loans.

Is University of Louisiana at Lafayette Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of University of Louisiana at Lafayette earn a median of $47,089, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does University of Louisiana at Lafayette Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

University of Louisiana at Lafayette 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 2.71%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 20.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $75,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is University of Louisiana at Lafayette? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Its economic connectedness score is 1.39, 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 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys