Cost of college in Louisiana
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in Louisiana averages $9,865 a year, or $15,012 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $50,879 and owe about $22,671. The net price pays back in about 6.6 years.
How Louisiana compares to the US
Louisiana ranks #29 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #37 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #42 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | Louisiana | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $9,865 | $9,518 | +$347 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $20,809 | $23,652 | -$2,843 |
| Net price after aid | $15,012 | $13,788 | +$1,224 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $50,879 | $56,427 | -$5,548 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,671 | $17,856 | +$4,815 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in Louisiana pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in Louisiana costs about $60,048 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 6.6 years from the roughly $9,079-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #42 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in Louisiana list about $46,110 in tuition and net out to about $28,090 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in Louisiana?
At a public 4-year college in Louisiana, in-state tuition and fees average about $9,865 a year and out-of-state runs about $20,809. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $15,012. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in Louisiana earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from Louisiana's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $50,879 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $22,671 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in Louisiana?
A public 4-year degree in Louisiana costs about $60,048 over four years at net price and recoups in about 6.6 years from the roughly $9,079-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.