Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $31,419/yr fall 15% below the $37,172 national median for Liberal Arts and Sciences. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.2x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Liberal Arts and Sciences programs nationally.
AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic ten-year scenarios is just 5% — this field's hands-on core resists automation.
Median debt of $23,961 represents roughly 9 months of the $31,419 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #334 of 424 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs, University of Louisiana at Lafayette falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Earnings grow from $31,419 to $41,481 over five years — a 32% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.