Accounting Degree in Lafayette, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Lafayette, LA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$64K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$94K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.1 yrs
in Lafayette
Cost of Living
104
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Lafayette, LA Overview
While Lafayette has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Accounting students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $11,349/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Accounting enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Financial Reporting and Tax Preparation. The adjusted starting salary in Lafayette is approximately $64,480.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$10,374/yr
Private Tuition
$38,796/yr
Room & Board
$11,349/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,367/yr
Unemployment
4.8%
Graduation Rate
66%
Accounting Salary in Lafayette (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lafayette's cost of living index of 104 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Lafayette adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Lafayette
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Lafayette tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,374 | Private avg: $38,796
Lafayette avg aid: $7,367/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,892
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$28,080
vs HS diploma in Lafayette
ROI Payback Period
3.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lafayette
$693,108
Lifetime earnings premium ($780,000) minus total education cost ($86,892)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Lafayette
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lafayette for Accounting
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
public
$10,374/yr
$41,496 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
South Louisiana Community College
$4,236/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Lafayette
Lafayette offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lafayette Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Accounting Job Titles
Accounting in Nearby Louisiana Cities
New Orleans, LA
$56K starting · COL 90
23 colleges
Baton Rouge, LA
$51K starting · COL 82
16 colleges
Shreveport, LA
$61K starting · COL 99
14 colleges
Metairie, LA
$55K starting · COL 89.4
6 colleges
Lake Charles, LA
$50K starting · COL 80
6 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$54K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$57K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Lafayette
Business Analytics
$81K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$73K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$68K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$52K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$52K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$52K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$52K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$60K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Accounting Degree in Lafayette — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Accounting ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Lafayette.