Location: Lafayette, LA•In-State Tuition: $10,418•Out-of-State Tuition: $24,146•Admission Rate: 89%•Avg SAT: 1219
Median Earnings (1yr)
$28,206
26th percentile
Median Debt
$20,416
24% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.72 ManageableSample: 19 graduates Limited data

Analysis

Starting a design career at $28,206 means your graduate will likely struggle to make student loan payments, even with the relatively modest $20,416 debt load. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72, they'd be committing roughly 9 months of their first year's gross income to pay off loans—a challenging proposition for creative professionals who often piece together freelance work early in their careers.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) warrants skepticism, but the available numbers don't inspire confidence. This program lands at just the 26th percentile nationally for design and applied arts earnings, meaning three-quarters of similar programs produce better-paying outcomes. Even within Louisiana's limited design market, it ranks only at the 40th percentile—essentially middle-of-the-pack among the state's five programs. Louisiana Tech graduates earn slightly more with similar debt.

For families on tight budgets (39% of students here receive Pell grants), this combination creates real risk. Your child would graduate with debt that's higher than 88% of design programs nationally while earning less than most peers. Unless your student has exceptional portfolio work or family connections in the field that could accelerate their career trajectory, this program doesn't offer enough financial cushion to justify the investment over more affordable options like starting at community college.

Where University of Louisiana at Lafayette Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all design and applied arts bachelors's programs nationally

University of Louisiana at LafayetteOther design and applied arts programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How University of Louisiana at Lafayette graduates compare to all programs nationally

University of Louisiana at Lafayette earns $28k — 26th percentile among design and applied arts bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Louisiana

Design and Applied Arts bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Louisiana (5 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
University of Louisiana at LafayetteLafayette$10,418$28,206—$20,4160.72
Louisiana Tech UniversityRuston$10,125$29,146$35,890$21,5130.74
National Median—$33,563—$26,8800.80

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with design and applied arts graduates

Art Directors

Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual productions and media, such as print, broadcasting, video, and film. Direct workers engaged in artwork or layout design.

$111,040/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Special Effects Artists and Animators

Create special effects or animations using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials.

$99,800/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Web and Digital Interface Designers

Design digital user interfaces or websites. Develop and test layouts, interfaces, functionality, and navigation menus to ensure compatibility and usability across browsers or devices. May use web framework applications as well as client-side code and processes. May evaluate web design following web and accessibility standards, and may analyze web use metrics and optimize websites for marketability and search engine ranking. May design and test interfaces that facilitate the human-computer interaction and maximize the usability of digital devices, websites, and software with a focus on aesthetics and design. May create graphics used in websites and manage website content and links.

$95,380/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Video Game Designers

Design core features of video games. Specify innovative game and role-play mechanics, story lines, and character biographies. Create and maintain design documentation. Guide and collaborate with production staff to produce games as designed.

$95,380/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in architecture and architectural design, such as architectural environmental design, interior architecture/design, and landscape architecture. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in drama, music, and the arts including fine and applied art, such as painting and sculpture, or design and crafts. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Fashion Designers

Design clothing and accessories. Create original designs or adapt fashion trends.

$80,690/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Commercial and Industrial Designers

Design and develop manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and children's toys. Combine artistic talent with research on product use, marketing, and materials to create the most functional and appealing product design.

$79,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Set and Exhibit Designers

Design special exhibits and sets for film, video, television, and theater productions. May study scripts, confer with directors, and conduct research to determine appropriate architectural styles.

$66,280/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Interior Designers

Plan, design, and furnish the internal space of rooms or buildings. Design interior environments or create physical layouts that are practical, aesthetic, and conducive to the intended purposes. May specialize in a particular field, style, or phase of interior design.

$63,490/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Graphic Designers

Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects.

$61,300/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Artists and Related Workers, All Other

All artists and related workers not listed separately.

$56,260/yrJobs growth:
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 University of Louisiana at Lafayette, approximately 39% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 19 graduates with reported earnings and 19 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.