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University of Louisiana at Monroe

#1 Best Nursing Colleges in Louisiana
Public Monroe, LA · Urban · Southeast · 100% data
A Social Mobility B- Value C+ Earnings
Graduation Rate
52% C-
About half of students who start complete their degree
Earnings (10yr)
$46,769 C+
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$13,466 C+
21% less than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
85% C-
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +15% vs avg
Graduation -8% vs avg
Net Price +-21% vs avg
Mobility Top 5%

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 20.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $20.6 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Nursing Colleges in Louisiana.

20.6× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $20.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,058,390.

What The Data Says

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

  2. Social mobility rate of 3.66% — an engine of upward economic mobility.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $20.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why University of Louisiana at Monroe Matters

University of Louisiana at Monroe is a public doctoral / professional university in Monroe, LA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by 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 Doctoral / Professional University
Carnegie Class
Doctoral/Professional
Enrollment
5,022
Setting
Urban
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Humanities

Why students choose University of Louisiana at Monroe

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Engine of upward mobility
A strong record of moving students up the income ladder
Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

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

C+
Top 36% overall
C+
Earnings
$46,769 median
B-
Value
3.5× net price
C+
Affordability
$13,466/yr net
C-
Graduation
52% graduate
A
Social Mobility
3.7% climb Q1→Q5
C-
Selectivity
85% admit rate
C+
Diversity
0.63 index

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

How we grade →

Overview

With an enrollment of about 5,022 students and an acceptance rate of 85%, the University of Louisiana at Monroe is an accessible option for many. It’s a good fit for those looking to dive into fields like Health Professions, Psychology, Business & Marketing, Humanities, and Education. These programs attract students who are interested in both personal growth and practical career paths.

Looking at life after graduation, students here can expect to earn around $46,769 after ten years in the workforce. While the graduation rate sits at 52%, those who complete their degrees often step into solid job opportunities, especially in areas related to their studies. Affordability is also a consideration, and the cost after aid typically lands around $13,466, making it a reasonable choice for many families.

When it comes to managing debt, the median debt for graduates is about $21,500. This is an important factor for students to think about as they plan their futures. The university seems to attract individuals who are willing to work hard and take advantage of the supportive environment, which can play a big role in their success. Overall, if you’re looking for a place that combines accessibility with practical programs, ULM might be worth a closer look.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective University of Louisiana at Monroe 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 Monroe? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Monroe, Louisiana, University of Louisiana at Monroe admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 85%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,116. The graduation rate is roughly 52%.

Acceptance Rate
85%
Retention Rate
73%
SAT Average
1116
ACT Midpoint
22
SAT Range
1160–1360
ACT Range
18–24
Full-Time Faculty
74%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$7,719
Student–Faculty Ratio
17:1
Diversity Index
0.63
First-Gen Students
38%
Applicants
4,303
Admitted
3,017

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 Monroe? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at University of Louisiana at Monroe is $21,290, 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 $13,466. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,490 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,500 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$9,190
Out-of-State
$21,290
Avg Net Price
$13,466
Median Debt
$21,500
Pell Grant Rate
35%
Federal Loan Rate
35%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$11,490
Family Income $30K–$48K
$11,553
Family Income $48K–$75K
$12,647
Family Income $110K+
$18,642

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 Monroe — 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 Monroe Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of University of Louisiana at Monroe earn a median of $46,769, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$40,430
8 Years
$42,240
10 Years
$46,769
Debt-to-Earnings
0.46x
Earning > $25K
61%

Earnings Trajectory

$40,430 6yr $42,240 8yr $46,769 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (440)
36%
100% (440)
36%
100% (440)
36%
100% (440)
36%

How University Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation52%Earnings 10yr$47KNet Price$13KRetention73%Median Debt$22KPell Grant Rate35%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$11K$0-30K$12K$30-48K$13K$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%20.4%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%18.0%MOBILITY3.66%

College ROI Calculator

Is University of Louisiana at Monroe 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 Monroe delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $13,466/year ($53,864 total). Graduates earn $46,769 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,112,254 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,058,390 (20.6× your investment). The median debt is $21,500, 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)
$53,864
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,112,254
Net Return
$1,058,390
ROI Multiple
20.6×
Cost Per Year
$13,466
Median Debt
$21,500
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 Monroe Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

University of Louisiana at Monroe 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 3.66%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 20.4% 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 18% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $59,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
3.66%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
18.0%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
20.4%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$81,111
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is University of Louisiana at Monroe? 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 Monroe. Its economic connectedness score is 1.22, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.05). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.22
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.05
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
4.1%
Support Ratio
0.99
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).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$3,334,844
Investment Income
$-4,599,938

Top Programs

The fields University of Louisiana at Monroe 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 Monroe? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Monroe, Louisiana, University of Louisiana at Monroe admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 85%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,116. The graduation rate is roughly 52%.

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

Published tuition at University of Louisiana at Monroe is $21,290, 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 $13,466. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,490 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,500 in federal student loans.

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

Ten years out, alumni of University of Louisiana at Monroe earn a median of $46,769, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

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

University of Louisiana at Monroe 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 3.66%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 20.4% 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 18% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $59,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is University of Louisiana at Monroe? 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 Monroe. Its economic connectedness score is 1.22, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.05). Around 4% 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 Monroe.

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