Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Louisiana State University is a public national university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. LSU is moderately inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at LSU is in the top 25% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $56,806 10 years after enrolling, 2nd in Louisiana, and in the top 25% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, LSU bachelor students earn 7% more than the national average. LSU is ranked 2nd in Louisiana.
Louisiana State University’s median net annual cost of $17,811 and average years to graduate of 4.7 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at LSU sorted by number of graduates - Education (subject specific), Biology, Comms & Media Studies, Marketing, Business Administration, Psychology - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$17,811
Average years to graduate
4.7
Chemical Engineering
Rank: #31
Economic score: 1.21
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #64
Economic score: 1.32
Construction Mgmt.
Rank: #15
Economic score: 1.57
Accounting
Rank: #83
Economic score: 1.7
Civil Engineering
Rank: #79
Economic score: 1.75
Finance
Rank: #59
Economic score: 1.85
Health & Fitness
Rank: #105
Economic score: 4.56
Poli Sci/Government
Rank: #216
Economic score: 4.96
Sociology
Rank: #199
Economic score: 6.56
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
Rank: #94
Economic score: 10.35
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at LSU - Social Work, Business Administration, Library Science, Education, Accounting, Music - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Education
Rank: #106
Economic score: 0.49
Public Administration
Rank: #150
Economic score: 0.82
Communication disorder sciences
Rank: #145
Economic score: 0.84
Education (subject specific)
Rank: #255
Economic score: 1.9
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.7 years. 69% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at LSU is 15% higher than the state average, and 1% above the average for all national universities in the country.
At LSU, Pell Grant recipients represent 24% of the measured graduating class, 11% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at LSU graduates within 4.8 years.
LSU is in the bottom 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Louisiana State University’s economic mobility score of 19.35 is calculated by adjusting the 1.78 economic score of lower-income students by the 24% pell grant recipients within the student body. LSU’s EMS of 19.35 ranks in the top 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Louisiana State University pays $17,811 a year, $15,583 less than the $33,394 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $17,811
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At LSU, 93% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $17,811 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 31% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $7,670. This is 23% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,433
Pell grants
$5,114
State grants
$7,555
Institutional grants
$6,747
Louisiana State University offers 9 online bachelor programs, all of which are held exclusively online. At the master’s level LSU offers 15 programs, all of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
24
Percentage of programs online
15%
Louisiana State University's moderately inclusive admissions are indicated by their 71% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 36,561 applicants, of which 25,907 were admitted and 7,045 enrolled. LSU has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
99%
83%
Female
57%
59%
First time
82%
59%
In-state
72%
68%
1st generation
27%
35%
White
67%
52%
Black
15%
14%
Hispanic
8%
15%
Asian
5%
5%
American Indian
1%
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
5%
12%