
Source: National Center for Educational Statistics. This is the most recent data available as of January 2020
Questions & Answers
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What do all these numbers mean?
All costs are the average net cost paid by families in each income bracket. Net cost is the total cost of attendance minus government grants and institutional scholarships. Loans of any kind are not included. Figures are based on data from the 2017-18 school year, which is the latest available as of January 2020.
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What is “Total Cost” on the chart?
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular college. It includes:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
There are detailed chart below for each school that shows these expenses. Click here to go to the individual cost breakdown for schools.
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How can I use this information?
This information is useful for building a realistic college budget. It's a good place to start until you better understand your specific circumstances. For example, let's say your income is $100,000 per year. This chart shows that the average state school would run $13,790 and the average private school would be $22,332. You can also get information on specific Louisiana schools in the chart above or the tables below.
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Will my family pay the amount on this chart?
Probably not. The numbers are averages. You may be below average or above average. However, there are two key points we can learn from this data:
- Families with higher incomes ($75,000-$110,000 and $110,000+) will most likely pay close to full price at the public schools.
- Private colleges have a higher list price but offer more discounts. This brings their net price much closer to the cost of state-funded schools.
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Where did this information come from?
As part of federal financial aid, colleges are required to provide detailed cost information to the U.S. government. This data is made available to the public through the National Center for Education Statistics. For more details, click here.
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What about athletes, merit aid or minority students?
Athletes, high achieving students, and those with minority status are averaged in with everyone else. Within each income bracket, there are families that pay more than average and families that pay less than average.
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The costs on this chart seemed large, how can families afford to pay it?
For many families paying for college is not easy, but in the end they figure out. Most families will pay their net cost of college with some combination of:
- college savings and investments
- payments from current income
- loans
- outside scholarships (check out our Scholarship Guide For Busy Parents, which describes how you and your student can win scholarships for college and save money!)
- tax planning
- student work

Net Price:
Net price is the total cost of attendance minus the average amount of government grants and institutional scholarships awarded. This is an average, so you may pay above the average or below the average. Your exact net price is likely to be different and sometimes drastically different.
Most families will pay the net price with some combination of savings and investments, current income and various loans. Some students will also receive scholarships from sources other than the federal or state government or the college. Any scholarships and grants from these outside sources are not included in the data. However, government grants and institutional scholarships are included in the averages.
Total Cost at Louisiana State A&M (2017-18) | |
---|---|
Tuition and Fees | $11,374 |
Room and Board | $11,750 |
Books | $1,160 |
Other Expenses | $5,420 |
Total | $29,704 |
Total Cost:
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular institution for the 2017-18 school year. This is the latest data available as of January 2020. Total costs include:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
College Total Cost | ||
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Family Income | LA Public $22,753 | LA Private $45,705 |
$0 - $30k | $9,812 | $17,138 |
$30,001 – $48k | $11,154 | $18,142 |
$48,001 – $75k | $13,334 | $20,479 |
$75,001 – $110k | $13,790 | $22,332 |
$110,001+ | $15,269 | $26,174 |
Public vs. Private Averages
This table shows the average total cost of attendance for the Louisiana public and private colleges we have included in our analysis. The costs include a breakdown of the average net price paid by family income. Notice that the average private college is $7,000-$11,000 more than the average public school, depending on your income bracket. It is important to stress that these are averages. Most families will not be average, and their individual circumstances could be drastically different. I encourage all families to work with their preferred colleges to get information specific to their family.
Below are similar charts for each individual private and public college in Louisiana. Click a school to view its complete chart.
Public LA Schools Cost Breakdown
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Grambling State University
Grambling Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $7,435 $7,435 Room and Board $10,631 $10,631 Books $1,749 $1,749 Other Expenses $6,276 $6,276 Total $26,091 $26,091 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $17,989 $17,989 $30,001 - $48k $19,206 $19,206 $48,001 - $75k $21,312 $21,312 $75,001 - $110k $22,658 $22,658 $110,001+ $22,716 $22,716 -
Louisiana State University-Alexandria
Alexandria Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $6,669 $6,669 Room and Board $7,950 $7,950 Books $1,220 $1,220 Other Expenses $3,332 $3,332 Total $19,171 $19,171 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $7,360 $7,360 $30,001 - $48k $7,450 $7,450 $48,001 - $75k $8,108 $8,108 $75,001 - $110k $9,857 $9,857 $110,001+ $9,388 $9,388 -
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
Baton Rouge Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $11,374 $11,950 Room and Board $11,750 $11,830 Books $1,160 $1,160 Other Expenses $5,420 $5,420 Total $29,704 $30,360 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $7,809 $7,981 $30,001 - $48k $13,088 $13,377 $48,001 - $75k $17,667 $18,057 $75,001 - $110k $20,409 $20,860 $110,001+ $20,730 $21,188 -
Louisiana State University-Shreveport
Shreveport Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $7,166 $7,327 Room and Board $9,254 $9,430 Books $1,300 $1,300 Other Expenses $3,958 $4,880 Total $21,678 $22,937 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $7,747 $8,197 $30,001 - $48k $7,760 $8,211 $48,001 - $75k $10,111 $10,698 $75,001 - $110k $13,387 $14,164 $110,001+ $14,947 $15,815 -
Louisiana Tech University
Ruston Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $9,645 $9,645 Room and Board $6,360 $6,495 Books $1,251 $1,389 Other Expenses $3,108 $3,738 Total $20,364 $21,267 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $7,499 $7,832 $30,001 - $48k $7,566 $7,901 $48,001 - $75k $10,302 $10,759 $75,001 - $110k $12,442 $12,994 $110,001+ $12,922 $13,495 -
McNeese State University
Lake Charles Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $7,920 $7,860 Room and Board $8,188 $8,326 Books $1,300 $1,300 Other Expenses $3,958 $4,040 Total $21,366 $21,526 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,502 $10,581 $30,001 - $48k $15,258 $15,372 $48,001 - $75k $15,257 $15,371 $75,001 - $110k $0 $0 $110,001+ $15,904 $16,023
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University of New Orleans
New Orleans Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $8,484 $8,771 Room and Board $10,575 $10,712 Books $1,300 $1,300 Other Expenses $3,373 $4,440 Total $23,732 $25,223 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $8,986 $9,551 $30,001 - $48k $10,454 $11,111 $48,001 - $75k $12,587 $13,378 $75,001 - $110k $13,594 $14,448 $110,001+ $13,180 $14,008 -
Nicholls State University
Thibodaux Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $7,886 $7,952 Room and Board $9,288 $9,754 Books $1,300 $1,300 Other Expenses $3,446 $4,112 Total $21,920 $23,118 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $8,876 $9,361 $30,001 - $48k $9,884 $10,424 $48,001 - $75k $12,119 $12,781 $75,001 - $110k $13,828 $14,584 $110,001+ $14,129 $14,901 -
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Natchitoches Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $7,922 $7,922 Room and Board $8,804 $9,410 Books $1,300 $1,300 Other Expenses $3,373 $4,040 Total $21,399 $22,672 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $9,615 $10,187 $30,001 - $48k $9,724 $10,302 $48,001 - $75k $12,580 $13,328 $75,001 - $110k $12,889 $13,656 $110,001+ $13,564 $14,371 -
Southeastern Louisiana University
Hammond Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $8,153 $8,165 Room and Board $8,854 $9,096 Books $1,300 $1,300 Other Expenses $3,370 $4,040 Total $21,677 $22,601 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $9,938 $10,362 $30,001 - $48k $10,822 $11,283 $48,001 - $75k $13,274 $13,840 $75,001 - $110k $14,951 $15,588 $110,001+ $14,599 $15,221 -
Southern University and A & M College
Baton Rouge Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $8,666 $9,122 Room and Board $9,440 $8,730 Books $1,300 $1,300 Other Expenses $3,971 $3,971 Total $23,377 $23,123 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,602 $15,432 $30,001 - $48k $16,546 $16,366 $48,001 - $75k $18,583 $18,381 $75,001 - $110k $19,737 $19,523 $110,001+ $20,650 $20,426 -
Southern University at New Orleans
New Orleans Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $6,421 $7,033 Room and Board $8,980 $8,980 Books $1,300 $1,300 Other Expenses $3,838 $4,040 Total $20,539 $21,353 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $6,867 $7,139 $30,001 - $48k $7,899 $8,212 $48,001 - $75k $9,139 $9,501 $75,001 - $110k $11,129 $11,570 $110,001+ $11,202 $11,646 -
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Lafayette Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $9,888 $9,912 Room and Board $10,294 $10,708 Books $1,220 $1,300 Other Expenses $3,373 $4,002 Total $24,775 $25,922 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $8,763 $9,169 $30,001 - $48k $9,345 $9,778 $48,001 - $75k $12,307 $12,877 $75,001 - $110k $14,386 $15,052 $110,001+ $14,571 $15,246
Private LA Schools Cost Breakdown
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Centenary College of Louisiana
Shreveport Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $35,900 $36,580 Room and Board $13,150 $13,400 Books $1,300 $1,300 Other Expenses $2,650 $3,020 Total $53,000 $54,300 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $22,988 $23,552 $30,001 - $48k $22,151 $22,694 $48,001 - $75k $24,130 $24,722 $75,001 - $110k $26,088 $26,728 $110,001+ $28,331 $29,026 -
Dillard University
New Orleans Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $17,917 $17,918 Room and Board $9,985 $10,100 Books $1,300 $1,300 Other Expenses $4,673 $4,366 Total $33,875 $33,684 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,608 $16,514 $30,001 - $48k $17,445 $17,347 $48,001 - $75k $17,252 $17,155 $75,001 - $110k $17,800 $17,700 $110,001+ $20,631 $20,515 -
Louisiana College
Pineville Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $16,000 $17,000 Room and Board $5,272 $5,518 Books $1,220 $1,220 Other Expenses $3,332 $3,300 Total $25,824 $27,038 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $11,995 $12,559 $30,001 - $48k $10,891 $11,403 $48,001 - $75k $13,771 $14,418 $75,001 - $110k $15,168 $15,881 $110,001+ $13,312 $13,938
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Loyola University New Orleans
New Orleans Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $39,492 $39,942 Room and Board $12,658 $13,380 Books $1,248 $1,276 Other Expenses $1,924 $1,966 Total $55,322 $56,564 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,816 $17,194 $30,001 - $48k $17,115 $17,499 $48,001 - $75k $18,816 $19,238 $75,001 - $110k $21,544 $22,028 $110,001+ $27,507 $28,125 -
University of Holy Cross
New Orleans Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $13,220 $14,180 Room and Board $0 $14,775 Books $1,220 $1,300 Other Expenses $0 $2,042 Total $0 $32,297 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,148 $0 $30,001 - $48k $12,322 $0 $48,001 - $75k $17,621 $0 $75,001 - $110k $18,056 $0 $110,001+ $16,951 $0 -
Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $52,960 $54,820 Room and Board $14,536 $15,190 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $1,068 $1,086 Total $69,764 $72,296 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $17,108 $17,729 $30,001 - $48k $22,718 $23,543 $48,001 - $75k $26,848 $27,822 $75,001 - $110k $31,733 $32,885 $110,001+ $43,726 $45,313 -
Xavier University of Louisiana
New Orleans Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $23,606 $24,348 Room and Board $9,534 $9,709 Books $1,300 $1,300 Other Expenses $2,003 $2,080 Total $36,443 $37,437 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $17,314 $17,786 $30,001 - $48k $18,533 $19,038 $48,001 - $75k $22,058 $22,660 $75,001 - $110k $21,660 $22,251 $110,001+ $23,534 $24,176
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