Lake Charles, Louisiana Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Lake Charles, Louisiana: median public in-state tuition $6,397 (+16.1% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $46,453 (-14.6% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 88.6% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $9,833 (-25.9% vs U.S.) 8,115 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 4 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 8,115 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $6,397 (+16.1% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $46,453 (-14.6% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 88.6% (+0.6 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $12,204 (+22.4% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $9,833 (-25.9% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $14,456
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 47.0%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 68.4%
Download the data
Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Lake Charles serve students across Louisiana with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 4 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 8,115 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $6,397. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Lake Charles, Louisiana and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Lake Charles vs Louisiana & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles, Louisiana | $6,397 | $12,204 | $9,833 | 47.0% | 8,115 |
| Louisiana (state median) | $6,004 | $11,456 | $13,136 | 45.0% | 186,008 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Lake Charles, Louisiana vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles, Louisiana | $46,453 | 88.6% | 68.4% | 10.0% | — | 75.9% | 0.50 |
| Louisiana (state median) | $47,477 | 89.7% | 71.7% | 7.0% | — | 75.9% | 0.48 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Louisiana (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles, Louisiana | $6,397 | $12,204 | $9,833 | 47.0% | 8,115 | $46,453 | 88.6% |
| Baton Rouge | $13,764 | $20,850 | $14,084 | 45.5% | 48,671 | $51,395 | 91.1% |
| New Orleans | $14,522 | $15,635 | $20,349 | 48.5% | 34,679 | $50,750 | 89.4% |
| Lafayette | $13,365 | $19,676 | $9,110 | 52.6% | 18,710 | $47,089 | 91.9% |
| Lafayette | $13,365 | $19,676 | $9,110 | 52.6% | 18,710 | $47,089 | 91.9% |
| Hammond | $8,373 | $12,882 | $15,015 | 45.4% | 9,739 | $46,482 | 90.9% |
| Hammond | $8,373 | $12,882 | $15,015 | 45.4% | 9,739 | $46,482 | 90.9% |
| Monroe | $6,674 | $10,584 | $11,000 | 54.2% | 8,278 | $46,769 | 91.4% |
| Monroe | $6,674 | $10,584 | $11,000 | 54.2% | 8,278 | $46,769 | 91.4% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Lake Charles, Louisiana by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
-
Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 47.0%, McNeese State University
McNeese State University
Top college in Lake Charles, Louisiana by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 88.6%, McNeese State University
McNeese State University
Most selective college in Lake Charles, Louisiana (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
-
Rank 1, Admission Rate, 78.3%, McNeese State University
McNeese State University
Top college in Lake Charles, Louisiana by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
-
Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $77,239, McNeese State University
McNeese State University
Top college in Lake Charles, Louisiana by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
-
Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $107,319, McNeese State University
McNeese State University
Top college in Lake Charles, Louisiana by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $38,713, McNeese State University
McNeese State University
Top college in Lake Charles, Louisiana by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $41,254, McNeese State University
McNeese State University
Top college in Lake Charles, Louisiana by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $46,453, McNeese State University
McNeese State University
Top college in Lake Charles, Louisiana by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
-
Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $147,792, McNeese State University
McNeese State University
Most affordable college in Lake Charles, Louisiana (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
-
Rank 1, Net Price, $12,493, McNeese State University
McNeese State University
Top college in Lake Charles, Louisiana by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 68.4%, McNeese State University
McNeese State University
In-state tuition: Lake Charles, Louisiana vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Lake Charles, Louisiana median in-state tuition is $6,397, +16.1% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Lake Charles, Louisiana vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Lake Charles, Louisiana is $9,833 (-25.9% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,456.
Median earnings (10 years out): Lake Charles, Louisiana vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Lake Charles, Louisiana center around $46,453 (-14.6% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Lake Charles, Louisiana vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 88.6% at the median Lake Charles, Louisiana campus (+0.6 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Lake Charles, Louisiana median public in-state tuition is $6,397, about +16.1% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +28.1%.
Median graduate debt is $9,833 (-25.9% below the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Lake Charles, Louisiana are $46,453, about -14.6% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 88.6% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (+0.6 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 68.4% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 10.0% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 75.9% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include McNeese State University (88.6%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Lake Charles, Louisiana is 47.0% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Lake Charles?
This city profile covers 4 campuses in Lake Charles, Louisiana with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Lake Charles?
Median in-state tuition in Lake Charles is $6,397 and median net price is $12,204. For Louisiana overall, medians are $6,004 and $11,456; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Lake Charles?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Lake Charles is $46,453 vs $47,477 for Louisiana and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Lake Charles colleges?
Median completer debt in Lake Charles is $9,833 vs $13,136 for Louisiana and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Lake Charles?
Top campuses on this page include McNeese State University (graduation) and McNeese State University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Lake Charles?
Among 4 College Scorecard campuses in Lake Charles, Louisiana, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Louisiana college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON