2026 data College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Louisiana State University-Shreveport

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to Louisiana State University-Shreveport that cost less. 15 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Louisiana State University-Shreveport

Shreveport, Louisiana · Public

$7,022
Net Price
$47,477
Median Earnings (10yr)
50.5%
Acceptance Rate
35.4%
Graduation Rate

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Louisiana State University-Shreveport

Louisiana State University-Shreveport posts an average net price of $7,022 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with Louisiana State University-Shreveport across six dimensions — ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, graduate earnings, and completion rate. 15 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $6,990, achieved by Canada College at $32. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 15 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Louisiana State University-Shreveport’s $47,477, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $51,859.

The similarity scoring treats enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector as high-weight features because those structural attributes correlate most strongly with student experience and post-graduation outcomes in the College Scorecard literature. Admission rate and graduation rate enter as secondary features, while net price drives the cost-ranking that determines which institutions appear. Net price is an IPEDS-reported figure calculated as the average cost of attendance minus institutional and federal grants for first-time, full-time undergraduates receiving Title IV aid — so it already accounts for the aid a typical admitted student would receive. That makes it a more honest cost comparison than sticker-price tuition alone.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

15
Alternatives Found
$6,990
Max Savings
15
Better Value Options
67%
Best Match

Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings

Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Top 5 1. Lake Washington Institute of $51k 2. Texas A & M International Un $48k 3. Bates Technical College $50k 4. Purdue University Northwest $48k 5. Bellingham Technical College $50k Compared to Louisiana State University-Shreveport: $47k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · 2024 (latest release) Median 10-year earnings reflect federal-aid recipients only; net price reflects sticker price minus average grants/scholarships.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
Lake Washington Institute of Technology
Kirkland, WA · Public Better Value
$6,817 -$205 $50,669 38.3% 67%
Texas A & M International University
Laredo, TX · Public Better Value
$3,637 -$3,385 $48,386 47.6% 67%
Bates Technical College
Tacoma, WA · Public Better Value
$6,292 -$730 $50,051 43.4% 61%
Purdue University Northwest
Hammond, IN · Public Better Value
$6,079 -$943 $48,318 43.5% 60%
Bellingham Technical College
Bellingham, WA · Public Better Value
$5,997 -$1,025 $49,748 44.4% 59%
College of the Canyons
Santa Clarita, CA · Public Better Value
$3,702 -$3,320 $49,022 N/A 56%
College of Staten Island CUNY
Staten Island, NY · Public Better Value
$5,579 -$1,443 $53,501 33.4% 55%
Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center
Choctaw, OK · Public Better Value
$6,904 -$118 $49,311 N/A 55%
Irvine Valley College
Irvine, CA · Public Better Value
$2,090 -$4,932 $49,156 N/A 55%
Schuylkill Technology Center
Frackville, PA · Public Better Value
$6,797 -$225 $49,148 N/A 55%
United Technical Center
Clarksburg, WV · Public Better Value
$3,461 -$3,561 $49,130 N/A 55%
Utah Valley University
Orem, UT · Public Better Value
$6,376 -$646 $55,486 43.1% 53%
Canada College
Redwood City, CA · Public Better Value
$32 -$6,990 $50,087 N/A 53%
Suffolk County Community College
Selden, NY · Public Better Value
$5,258 -$1,764 $49,907 N/A 53%
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
New York, NY · Public Better Value
$3,033 -$3,989 $75,971 72.1% 52%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, graduate earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than Louisiana State University-Shreveport are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to Louisiana State University-Shreveport?
We found 15 schools similar to Louisiana State University-Shreveport that cost less. The closest match is Lake Washington Institute of Technology with 67% similarity and a net price of $6,817.
What is the ROI of attending Louisiana State University-Shreveport?
Louisiana State University-Shreveport has an average net price of $7,022. Graduates earn a median of $47,477 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 6.8x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Louisiana State University-Shreveport for less money?
Yes — 15 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Lake Washington Institute of Technology costs $6,817 (saving $205) with median earnings of $50,669.
What is the cheapest alternative to Louisiana State University-Shreveport?
The most affordable similar school is Canada College at $32, saving $6,990 compared to Louisiana State University-Shreveport. It has a 53% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $51,859 compared to Louisiana State University-Shreveport's $47,477. On average, alternatives match or exceed this school's earnings. Individual results vary — check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.