Best College ROI in La 2026
26 colleges in La analyzed for return on investment. Tulane University of Louisiana leads with a ROI Score of 100/100 (STRONG BUY).
La has 26 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 14 public institutions and 12 private ones. Across the 26 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $24K and earn $84K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
96% of La colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Tulane University of Louisiana (median $95K on Computer Science).
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in La
Tulane University of Louisiana
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops La's ROI rankings on its Computer Science program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $9K in median debt.
Grambling State University
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Dillard University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer and Information Sciences. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $19K.
Top 20 Colleges by ROI in La
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tulane University of Louisiana(private) | Computer Science | $9K | $95K | A (100) |
| 2 | Grambling State University(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $19K | $95K | A (97) |
| 3 | Dillard University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $19K | $95K | A (96) |
| 4 | Louisiana Christian University(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $22K | $95K | A (96) |
| 5 | Louisiana Tech University(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 6 | McNeese State University(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 7 | Southeastern Louisiana University(public) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 8 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College(public) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 9 | Loyola University New Orleans(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 10 | Southern University and A & M College(public) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 11 | Southern University at New Orleans(public) | Mathematics | $23K | $78K | A (95) |
| 12 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 13 | University of Louisiana at Monroe(public) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 14 | University of New Orleans(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 15 | Xavier University of Louisiana(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 16 | Centenary College of Louisiana(private) | Mathematics | $21K | $78K | A (95) |
| 17 | Northwestern State University of Louisiana(public) | Information Science/Studies | $24K | $95K | A (94) |
| 18 | Herzing University-New Orleans(private) | Computer Programming | $28K | $95K | A (93) |
| 19 | Louisiana State University-Alexandria(public) | Mathematics | $26K | $78K | A (93) |
| 20 | Louisiana State University-Shreveport(public) | Computer Science | $26K | $95K | A (93) |
College debt and earnings data for La is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tulane University of Louisiana has the best ROI in La with a score of 100/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer Science, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $9K in median debt.
Across 26 La colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $24K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $84K.
Tulane University of Louisiana graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer Science). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
La has 26 colleges in our database (14 public, 12 private). Of the 26 with reportable ROI, 96% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).