Texas
Rank #25
Louisiana has lower in-state tuition by $530/yr.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2025-26
Texas
Rank #25
Louisiana
Rank #22
$530 per year cheaper ($2,120 over 4 years, tuition only). Net price after financial aid may differ—use college net price calculators for personalized estimates.
Select two states to see in-state, out-of-state, and 4-year sticker side by side.
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Public college tuition, out-of-state premiums, and 529 benefits.
Louisiana has lower in-state tuition: $10,730/yr (rank #22) vs $11,260/yr (rank #25) in Texas. That's a $530 annual gap, or $2,120 over 4 years (tuition only, before aid).
Room & board is not included. Add US average room & board ($13,900/yr) to estimate COA: Texas ≈ $25,160/yr; Louisiana ≈ $24,630/yr.
These are sticker prices from College Board. Net price after federal Pell Grants, state aid, institutional scholarships, and merit awards is typically much lower. Use college net price calculators for personalized estimates.
Texas out-of-state: $30,110/yr (premium +$18,850). Louisiana: $23,950/yr (premium +$13,220). Difference: $6,160/yr, or $24,640 over 4 years.
Out-of-state premiums fund the portion of costs not subsidized by state taxpayers. Students from neighboring states sometimes qualify for regional tuition exchange programs that reduce or waive the premium.
Texas public 2-year in-district: $3,312/yr. Louisiana: $5,310/yr. Starting at community college and transferring after 2 years cuts total 4-year costs significantly.
Many students complete general education requirements at community college and transfer to a 4-year institution with junior standing, saving tens of thousands in tuition. Verify transfer pathways and articulation agreements with your target 4-year school.
Both Texas and Louisiana residents can open 529 college savings plans. State tax benefits vary: some states offer unlimited deductions, others cap deductions at $1,000–$10,000/yr, and a few offer flat tax credits instead of deductions.
Use our /529-calculator to compare Texas (TX) and Louisiana (LA) tax savings, project account growth at different return rates, and evaluate superfunding (5-year lump sum) vs annual contributions.
529 plans offer federal tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals for qualified education expenses: tuition, fees, room, board, books, computers, and K-12 tuition (up to $10,000/yr). Some states also allow 529-to-Roth IRA rollovers under SECURE 2.0 Act rules.