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 →
| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt* | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10,125 | $72,877* | — | $22,875* | — | |
| $11,505 | $80,931* | $85,817 | $18,750* | 0.23 | |
| $12,859 | $78,734* | $92,338 | $22,000* | 0.28 | |
| $8,578 | $78,264* | — | $13,000* | 0.17 | |
| $10,816 | $77,421* | $92,472 | $26,500* | 0.34 | |
| $9,401 | $76,059* | $79,387 | $31,000* | 0.41 | |
| National Median | — | $72,876* | — | $22,694* | 0.31 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with engineering graduates
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary
Engineers, All Other
Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar
Mechatronics Engineers
Microsystems Engineers
Photonics Engineers
Robotics Engineers
Nanosystems Engineers
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.