Est. Earnings (1yr)
$72,877
Est. from national median (16 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$22,875
Est. from national median (13 programs)

Analysis

Louisiana Tech's engineering program offers what appears to be a financially sound path, though the specifics require some context. Since the school doesn't have enough recent graduates for the Department of Education to report outcomes directly, we're looking at national benchmarks for bachelor's-level engineering programs, which typically produce first-year earnings around $73,000 and median debt of $23,000. These figures align closely with what engineering graduates generally achieve nationwide.

The estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31 suggests a manageable financial burden—engineering graduates from comparable programs typically earn enough in their first year to cover their debt load roughly three times over. This is substantially better than many other fields where debt can equal or exceed annual earnings. Louisiana Tech's 73% admission rate and modest SAT profile suggest the school isn't competing for the most selective student pool, yet engineering programs at accessible institutions often deliver strong returns because the technical skills are what employers value most.

The challenge here is that you're making this decision with less program-specific data than you'd have at larger schools. Louisiana Tech is the only institution in this analysis with engineering data suppressed, which might simply reflect smaller graduating classes rather than poor outcomes. If your child thrives in smaller, less competitive environments and wants to stay in Louisiana for an engineering career, the fundamentals look reasonable. Just recognize you're betting on national engineering trends rather than proven Louisiana Tech outcomes.

Where Louisiana Tech University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all engineering bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Engineering bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Louisiana Tech UniversityRuston$10,125$72,877*$22,875*
University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park$11,505$80,931*$85,817$18,750*0.23
Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus$12,859$78,734*$92,338$22,000*0.28
SUNY Polytechnic InstituteUtica$8,578$78,264*$13,000*0.17
Massachusetts Maritime AcademyBuzzards Bay$10,816$77,421*$92,472$26,500*0.34
Colorado State University PuebloPueblo$9,401$76,059*$79,387$31,000*0.41
National Median$72,876*$22,694*0.31
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with engineering graduates

Architectural and Engineering Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers

Define, plan, or execute biofuels/biodiesel research programs that evaluate alternative feedstock and process technologies with near-term commercial potential.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors

Promote worksite or product safety by applying knowledge of industrial processes, mechanics, chemistry, psychology, and industrial health and safety laws. Includes industrial product safety engineers.

$109,660/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers

Research causes of fires, determine fire protection methods, and design or recommend materials or equipment such as structural components or fire-detection equipment to assist organizations in safeguarding life and property against fire, explosion, and related hazards.

$109,660/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the application of physical laws and principles of engineering for the development of machines, materials, instruments, processes, and services. Includes teachers of subjects such as chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, mechanical, mineral, and petroleum engineering. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Engineers, All Other

All engineers not listed separately.

Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar

Design, develop, or evaluate energy-related projects or programs to reduce energy costs or improve energy efficiency during the designing, building, or remodeling stages of construction. May specialize in electrical systems; heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems; green buildings; lighting; air quality; or energy procurement.

Mechatronics Engineers

Research, design, develop, or test automation, intelligent systems, smart devices, or industrial systems control.

Microsystems Engineers

Research, design, develop, or test microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices.

Photonics Engineers

Design technologies specializing in light information or light energy, such as laser or fiber optics technology.

Robotics Engineers

Research, design, develop, or test robotic applications.

Nanosystems Engineers

Design, develop, or supervise the production of materials, devices, or systems of unique molecular or macromolecular composition, applying principles of nanoscale physics and electrical, chemical, or biological engineering.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Louisiana Tech University, approximately 21% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 16 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.