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Public · 4-year

McNeese State University

Lake Charles, Louisiana

31
F
DR Rating
DegreeReturn Rating — Poor value

A 0–100 composite of ROI, graduate earnings, net price, debt and graduation rate. How it’s scored.

Poor return
$-5,133 over 10 years

Estimated for a typical student paying the average net price over 4 years.

On these figures the cost and debt outweigh the earnings premium.

11 yrs
Break-even
-9%
10-year ROI
$50,322
Median earnings as of 2024
66% of McNeese State University students earn more than a typical U.S. high-school graduate (about $28,000/yr) ten years after starting — measured from IRS tax records, not surveys.

The numbers behind the verdict

$12,493
Average net price / yr as of 2024
$50,322
Median earnings (5 yr) as of 2024
$42,694
Median earnings (1 yr) as of 2024
$23,000
Median debt at graduation as of 2024
47%
Graduation rate as of 2024
66%
Earn more than a HS grad as of 2024
76%
Repaying their loans (3 yr) as of 2024
68%
Retention rate as of 2024

Lifetime ROI: the long view

Cumulative net gain over a high-school-only earner at different career lengths, with tuition and debt interest already subtracted. Built on IRS-verified federal earnings — not self-reported surveys.

$-5,133
After 10 years
$48,087
After 20 years
$101,307
After 30 years
$154,527
After 40 years

Conservative: holds year-5 earnings flat (no raises). Adjust the assumptions, or see the highest 20-year ROI colleges.

Equity & access

Who the college serves and whether the payoff reaches everyone — earnings ten years after starting (IRS-linked), with access measures from federal enrollment data.

By gender
Women
$41,991
Men
$58,852

29% gap between the two groups

By family-income background
From lower-income families
$41,062
From higher-income families
$52,605

22% gap between the two groups

By student status (FAFSA)
Dependent students
$47,507
Independent students
$44,547

6% gap between the two groups

39%
First-generation students
32%
Take federal student loans
97%
Born in the U.S.
Who studies here
White 61%Hispanic 5%Asian 2%Black 19%Other 13%

Undergraduate enrollment by race/ethnicity. Federal data does not report earnings by race.

Net price by family income

What students actually pay after grants and scholarships, by household income as of 2024.

Family incomeAverage net price / yr
Family income $0–$30k$10,482
$30k–$48k$11,067
$48k–$75k$11,640
$75k–$110k$16,190
$110k+$18,250

How McNeese State University compares

This college against the Louisiana and national averages — higher earnings and lower cost/debt are better.

Graduate earnings over time

Median earnings of McNeese State University students 10 years after entering, by cohort year as of 2024.

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Best-paying majors at McNeese State University

Fields of study ranked by their own ROI — earnings five years after graduating against the cost and debt. Click a major for the deep dive.

MajorCredentialEarnings (5 yr)Median debt10-yr ROIVerdict
Engineering, GeneralAssociate's$99,434$25,554+1,487%Strong return
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingCertificate$122,089$40,664+1,090%Strong return
Computer ScienceAssociate's$72,568+1,003%Strong return
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingAssociate's$72,067$23,011+711%Strong return
Biology, GeneralAssociate's$58,995$20,736+330%Strong return
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasAssociate's$52,464+199%Strong return
Educational Administration and SupervisionCertificate$57,161+143%Strong return
Agriculture, GeneralAssociate's$52,104$18,000+125%Strong return
MarketingAssociate's$50,467+119%Strong return
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessCertificate$56,410$30,128+87%Strong return
Accounting and Related ServicesAssociate's$50,857$18,683+84%Strong return
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsAssociate's$48,318+33%Break-even
Business Administration, Management and OperationsAssociate's$49,396$23,850+31%Break-even
Psychology, GeneralCertificate$52,876$35,378+25%Break-even
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsCertificate$50,322+7%Break-even
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsBachelor's$48,966-21%Poor return
Finance and Financial Management ServicesAssociate's$45,936$27,680-73%Poor return
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsAssociate's$45,505$22,316-85%Poor return
SociologyAssociate's$44,679$31,539-109%Poor return
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessAssociate's$44,155$16,750-127%Poor return
Psychology, GeneralAssociate's$43,040$23,936-158%Poor return
Communication and Media StudiesAssociate's$42,915$22,250-163%Poor return
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesAssociate's$41,559$24,377-202%Poor return
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsAssociate's$40,540$24,685-231%Poor return
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesCertificate$40,109$16,705-363%Poor return

Calculate your own ROI

Adjust the assumptions for your situation — the verdict, break-even and chart update live.

ROI at McNeese State University

Or pick your to set cost

Estimates from federal data; your result will vary. How this works.

10-yr net gain
Break-even
10-yr ROI

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Admissions & profile

78%
Admission rate
1,087
Average SAT
22
Median ACT
5,005
Undergraduates

Location

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.

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