Electrical Engineering Degree in Lafayette, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
Electrical Engineering degree analysis for Lafayette, LA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$83K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$120K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
1.9 yrs
in Lafayette
Cost of Living
104
index (100 = avg)
Electrical Engineering in Lafayette, LA Overview
While Lafayette has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Electrical Engineering students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $11,349/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Electrical Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Circuit Design and Signal Processing. The adjusted starting salary in Lafayette is approximately $83,200.
Category
Engineering
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%
Electrical Engineering Salary in Lafayette (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lafayette's cost of living index of 104 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Electrical Engineering salary: $80,000 starting, $115,000 mid-career, $142,000 senior level.Lafayette adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Electrical Engineering ROI Calculator for Lafayette
Estimate your return on investment for a Electrical Engineering 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
$46,800
vs HS diploma in Lafayette
ROI Payback Period
1.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lafayette
$953,108
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,040,000) minus total education cost ($86,892)
Student Loan Payoff for Electrical Engineering in Lafayette
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lafayette for Electrical Engineering
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 Electrical Engineering in Lafayette
Lafayette offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Electrical Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lafayette Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Electrical Engineering Job Titles
Electrical Engineering in Nearby Louisiana Cities
New Orleans, LA
$72K starting · COL 90
23 colleges
Baton Rouge, LA
$66K starting · COL 82
16 colleges
Shreveport, LA
$79K starting · COL 99
14 colleges
Metairie, LA
$72K starting · COL 89.4
6 colleges
Lake Charles, LA
$64K starting · COL 80
6 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$70K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$74K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Lafayette
Petroleum Engineering
$52K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$52K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$85K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$52K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$83K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$81K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$52K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$52K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering 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 Electrical Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Lafayette.