Business Administration Degree in Lake Charles, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
Business Administration degree analysis for Lake Charles, LA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$46K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$70K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.1 yrs
in Lake Charles
Cost of Living
80
index (100 = avg)
Business Administration in Lake Charles, LA Overview
Lake Charles, Louisiana (pop. 84,872) has 6 colleges offering Business Administration programs. The local cost of living index of 80 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $925/month. Business Administration enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Leadership and Strategic Planning. The adjusted starting salary in Lake Charles is approximately $46,400, growing to $70,400 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$9,274/yr
Private Tuition
$41,023/yr
Room & Board
$14,078/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,078/yr
Unemployment
3.3%
Graduation Rate
56%
Business Administration Salary in Lake Charles (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lake Charles's cost of living index of 80 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Business Administration salary: $58,000 starting, $88,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Lake Charles adjustment factor: 0.80x based on the local cost of living index.
Business Administration ROI Calculator for Lake Charles
Estimate your return on investment for a Business Administration degree using local Lake Charles tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,274 | Private avg: $41,023
Lake Charles avg aid: $16,078/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,408
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,400
vs HS diploma in Lake Charles
ROI Payback Period
5.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lake Charles
$426,592
Lifetime earnings premium ($520,000) minus total education cost ($93,408)
Student Loan Payoff for Business Administration in Lake Charles
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lake Charles for Business Administration
McNeese State University
public
$9,274/yr
$37,096 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Sowela Technical Community College
$4,236/yr
Top Employers for Business Administration in Lake Charles
Lake Charles offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Business Administration graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lake Charles Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Business Administration Job Titles
Business Administration in Nearby Louisiana Cities
New Orleans, LA
$52K starting · COL 90
23 colleges
Baton Rouge, LA
$48K starting · COL 82
16 colleges
Shreveport, LA
$57K starting · COL 99
14 colleges
Metairie, LA
$52K starting · COL 89.4
6 colleges
Lafayette, LA
$60K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$51K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$54K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Lake Charles
Business Analytics
$62K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$56K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$52K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$40K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$40K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$40K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$50K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$40K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration Degree in Lake Charles — 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 Business Administration ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Lake Charles.