Marketing at University of Louisiana at Lafayette

At $34,778 in first-year earnings, UL Lafayette's marketing graduates earn significantly below what most marketing majors make nationally—landing in just the 5th percentile. That's roughly $10,000 less than the national median and trails even Louisiana's state median by about $3,000. Among the 15 marketing programs in Louisiana, this one sits near the middle at the 40th percentile, but that's partly because Louisiana's marketing salaries run low overall. When you can earn $40,750 starting out from Southern University's program or $43,652 from UL Monroe with similar or lower debt loads, the comparison gets uncomfortable.

The $24,000 debt burden is reasonable—roughly in line with national and state averages—and the 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can theoretically manage their loans. Earnings do climb 17% by year four to just over $40,000, which helps. But even that four-year figure barely reaches what some Louisiana programs deliver right out of the gate, and the gap with Tulane's $61,000 is stark (though Tulane serves a different student population).

For families prioritizing affordability and access, UL Lafayette's 89% admission rate and strong Pell Grant enrollment (39%) matter. But if your child is weighing multiple Louisiana options, push them to compare financial aid packages carefully—several state schools appear to position graduates for stronger starting salaries without significantly more debt.