Public · COLLEGE PAYOFF

McNeese State University

Lake Charles, LA · 29 reportable field-and-credential outcomes

MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff

−$166,182 over 10 years

Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.

At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.

36.1 yrsModeled economic break-even
−72%Modeled 10-year ROI
$51,379Observed earnings · year 5
Economic ROI includes direct price and earnings forgone during study · $45,000 comparison earnings · values held flat · see the formula
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK

Estimated payoff over ten years.

The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.

10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$166,182at year 10
Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
−$229,9720
2
4
6
8
−$166,18210
Years after graduationBreak-even: 36.1 years
FEDERAL COST DATA

Four ways to read college price.

Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.

Published in-state tuition$8,489
Sticker price
Published out-of-state tuition$9,989
Sticker price
Average net price$12,493
Title IV student average
Cost of attendance$22,810
Tuition + living budget
PRICE SOURCECollege reported · annual amount · federal dataset
OBSERVED FEDERAL MEASURES

Cost, completion and earnings context

$12,493Average net price / year
$22,810Cost of attendance
$51,379Median earnings · year 5 after completion
47.0%Completion rate
78.3%Admission rate
5,005Student size
NATIONAL CONTEXT

How this college compares

Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.

65thEarnings percentile
33thCompletion percentile
EARNINGS PATH

Reported earnings over time

$43,129Year 1
$53,563Year 4
$51,379Year 5

Separate federal cohorts may underlie different measurement years.

PROGRAM PAYOFF SPREAD

The college average is not the whole story.

Observed earnings vary substantially by field and credential at the same institution.

1Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Master's Degree$120,3132Engineering, General · Bachelor's Degree$107,3193Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Bachelor's Degree$85,9284Psychology, General · Master's Degree$79,3415Business Administration, Management and Operations · Master's Degree$74,9486Accounting and Related Services · Bachelor's Degree$67,3317Computer Science · Bachelor's Degree$64,8348Finance and Financial Management Services · Bachelor's Degree$62,705

Observed year-4 earnings · compare like fields and credentials before deciding

BUILD A REAL SHORTLIST

Comparable colleges in LA

Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive—not a quality ranking.

New Orleans, LA

University of New Orleans

Annual net price
$12,384
Observed earnings · year 5
$51,173
Modeled 10-year ROI
-73%
Open college profile →
Monroe, LA

University of Louisiana at Monroe

Annual net price
$13,466
Observed earnings · year 5
$50,508
Modeled 10-year ROI
-76%
Open college profile →
Natchitoches, LA

Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Annual net price
$13,606
Observed earnings · year 5
$52,428
Modeled 10-year ROI
-68%
Open college profile →
Thibodaux, LA

Nicholls State University

Annual net price
$12,947
Observed earnings · year 5
$49,367
Modeled 10-year ROI
-81%
Open college profile →
ALL REPORTABLE PROGRAM CATEGORIES

Explore exact field-and-credential outcomes

Federal fieldCredentialEarnings, year 4Federal debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingMaster's Degree$120,313Not available
Engineering, GeneralBachelor's Degree$107,319$27,249
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBachelor's Degree$85,928$26,100
Psychology, GeneralMaster's Degree$79,341Not available
Business Administration, Management and OperationsMaster's Degree$74,948Not available
Accounting and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$67,331$20,500
Computer ScienceBachelor's Degree$64,834Not available
Finance and Financial Management ServicesBachelor's Degree$62,705$27,860
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBachelor's Degree$60,532$25,466
Educational Administration and SupervisionMaster's Degree$60,170Not available
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessMaster's Degree$60,071Not available
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsMaster's Degree$59,792Not available
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsBachelor's Degree$59,777Not available
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessBachelor's Degree$51,257$19,014
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsMaster's Degree$48,679Not available
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsBachelor's Degree$48,195$22,500
SociologyBachelor's Degree$47,592$35,375
Communication and Media StudiesBachelor's Degree$47,166$22,625
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsBachelor's Degree$46,223$27,000
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesBachelor's Degree$45,669$27,000
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesAssociate's Degree$45,658$17,125
MarketingBachelor's Degree$44,589Not available
Agriculture, GeneralBachelor's Degree$43,901$19,500
English Language and Literature, GeneralBachelor's Degree$43,828Not available
Psychology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$37,416$25,000
Fine and Studio ArtsBachelor's Degree$34,891$23,615
Biology, GeneralBachelor's DegreeNot available$20,869
MusicBachelor's DegreeNot available$23,250
Public HealthBachelor's DegreeNot available$29,750

Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.