UL Lafayette vs. SUNY Cortland

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Louisiana at Lafayette in Lafayette, LA with State University of New York at Cortland in Cortland, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Louisiana at Lafayette is larger than SUNY Cortland based on total student enrollment (15,665 students vs. 6,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Louisiana at Lafayette is located in Lafayette, LA (Midsize City setting); State University of New York at Cortland is in Cortland, NY (Rural Fringe setting).
• University of Louisiana at Lafayette is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. State University of New York at Cortland is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Louisiana at Lafayette 18:1; State University of New York at Cortland 15:1.

UL Lafayette vs. SUNY Cortland Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UL Lafayette or SUNY Cortland? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Louisiana at Lafayette than SUNY Cortland ($13,017 vs. $19,847).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Louisiana at Lafayette are 22.2% lower than at State University of New York at Cortland ($12,108 vs. $15,560).
• University of Louisiana at Lafayette is 17.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Cortland (about $1,544 more per year; $10,418.00 vs. $8,874.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 28.5% higher at UL Lafayette than at State University of New York at Cortland (about $5,362 more per year; $24,146.00 vs. $18,784.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Louisiana at Lafayette than at State University of New York at Cortland (91% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Louisiana at Lafayette students is 42.5% larger than aid received by State University of New York at Cortland students ($11,762 vs. $8,254).

UL Lafayette vs. SUNY Cortland Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UL Lafayette or SUNY Cortland? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SUNY Cortland and UL Lafayette.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Louisiana at Lafayette (1180) is 10 points higher than at SUNY Cortland (1170).
• Incoming UL Lafayette students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 24 at SUNY Cortland).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Louisiana at Lafayette 1120/1240; State University of New York at Cortland 1090/1240.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Louisiana at Lafayette 23/28; State University of New York at Cortland 22/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UL Lafayette - Test optional; SUNY Cortland - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman SUNY Cortland students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at UL Lafayette (3.4).
• UL Lafayette has a higher acceptance rate (87%) than SUNY Cortland (59.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.7% at UL Lafayette vs. 13.3% at SUNY Cortland.

UL Lafayette vs. SUNY Cortland Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UL Lafayette and SUNY Cortland? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• State University of New York at Cortland's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than University of Louisiana at Lafayette's (41%).
• Graduates from State University of New York at Cortland earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than UL Lafayette graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,300 vs. $45,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Louisiana at Lafayette graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than SUNY Cortland graduates ($19,500 vs. $21,500).
• Among borrowers, UL Lafayette graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY Cortland graduates ($201 vs. $222).
• More SUNY Cortland graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UL Lafayette students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 55%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.