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McNeese State University

Lake Charles, Louisiana · Public · 4-year · City

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At a glance

Average net price
$12,493What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
78%
Graduation rate
49%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
5,005
In-state tuition
$8,489Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$9,989
SAT midpoint
1,080
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$46,453Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against public 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$12,493

Better than 69% of public 4-year colleges (565 compared).

Completion

49%

Better than 41% of public 4-year colleges (566 compared).

Earnings

$46,453

Better than 22% of public 4-year colleges (590 compared).

Debt at graduation

$23,000

Better than 27% of public 4-year colleges (588 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$22,810

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$12,493

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for McNeese State University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time49%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return68%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$23,000
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$46,453

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at McNeese State University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$77,239131
Engineering, General$75,56632
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions$57,96422
Finance and Financial Management Services$49,21616
Accounting and Related Services$46,77435
Business Administration, Management and Operations$44,26293
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$44,22524
Agriculture, General$37,88750
Music$36,30511
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$35,282156
Criminal Justice and Corrections$34,17844
Fine and Studio Arts$31,22614
Sociology$30,18329
Biology, General$28,27642
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$27,19370
Psychology, General$26,41458
Communication and Media Studies$25,13126
Mechanical EngineeringNot reported34
Computer ScienceNot reported33
MarketingNot reported20
Chemical EngineeringNot reported18
English Language and Literature, GeneralNot reported16
Public HealthNot reported14
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied ProfessionsNot reported11
HistoryNot reported9
ChemistryNot reported8
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and ManagementNot reported8
Political Science and GovernmentNot reported4
MathematicsNot reported2
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasNot reported1
Nutrition SciencesNot reportedNot reported
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesNot reportedNot reported

All 32 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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