Human Resources Degree in Lafayette, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
Human Resources degree analysis for Lafayette, LA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$81K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.6 yrs
in Lafayette
Cost of Living
104
index (100 = avg)
Human Resources in Lafayette, LA Overview
While Lafayette has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Human Resources students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $11,349/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Human Resources enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Recruiting and Employee Relations. The adjusted starting salary in Lafayette is approximately $52,000, growing to $81,120 by mid-career.
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%
Human Resources Salary in Lafayette (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lafayette's cost of living index of 104 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Human Resources salary: $50,000 starting, $78,000 mid-career, $100,000 senior level.Lafayette adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Human Resources ROI Calculator for Lafayette
Estimate your return on investment for a Human Resources 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
$15,600
vs HS diploma in Lafayette
ROI Payback Period
5.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lafayette
$433,108
Lifetime earnings premium ($520,000) minus total education cost ($86,892)
Student Loan Payoff for Human Resources in Lafayette
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lafayette for Human Resources
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 Human Resources in Lafayette
Lafayette offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Human Resources 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 Human Resources Job Titles
Human Resources in Nearby Louisiana Cities
New Orleans, LA
$45K starting · COL 90
23 colleges
Baton Rouge, LA
$41K starting · COL 82
16 colleges
Shreveport, LA
$50K starting · COL 99
14 colleges
Metairie, LA
$45K starting · COL 89.4
6 colleges
Lake Charles, LA
$40K starting · COL 80
6 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$44K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$46K 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
Accounting
$64K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$52K starting · 4 yr ROI
Human Resources 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 Human Resources ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Lafayette.