Best Colleges in Louisiana – 2024

July 2, 2024

Higher education may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Louisiana – Mardi Gras, jazz, and distinct cuisine may be higher on the list. However, as we’ll see in taking a look at the Best Colleges in Louisiana, there are some amazing options among the 60+ institutions located in the state. In fact, one may just be your dream school that checks every box. The data in each profile card is intended to give a better sense of the academic offerings and outcomes at each institution. Residents will enjoy some strong public options at a reasonable tuition rate.

Methodology

Click here to read our methodology for the Best Colleges in Louisiana. As you’ll see, some schools with spectacular (and deserved) reputations simply do not happen to fare well on metrics such as student-to-faculty ratio or spending per student. We understand that a list based solely on prestige/general reputation would look different than what you will find below.

Best Colleges in Louisiana

Here’s a quick preview of the Louisiana-based institutions that made our list. Detailed profiles and stats can be found when you scroll below.

1) Tulane University

2) Louisiana State University

3) Loyola University New Orleans

4) Louisiana Tech University

5) University of Louisiana – Lafayette

All of the schools profiled below have a history of sending graduates to the most desirable employers and graduate schools in the country. College Transitions will provide you with—when available—each school’s:

Enrollment
Cost of Attendance
Acceptance Rate
Median SAT
Median ACT
Retention Rate
Graduation Rate

We will also include a longer write-up of each Louisiana college’s:

Academic Highlights – Includes facts like student-to-faculty ratio, average class size, number of majors offered, and most popular majors.
Professional Outcomes – Includes info on the rate of positive outcomes, companies employing alumni, and graduate school acceptances.

Also view our:

#1 Best College in Louisiana

Tulane University

New Orleans, LA

Academic Highlights: Tulane offers 75 majors within five colleges. The average undergraduate class size is 21 students and a solid 21% of courses have single-digit enrollments, providing a seminar-style environment. The overwhelming majority of undergraduate courses, even introductory ones, are taught by full-time professors. Exiting student surveys indicate that this focus on undergraduate education is noted; 94% rated their educational experience at Tulane as either “excellent” or “good.” 30% of students take advantage of Tulane’s expansive study abroad program, which offers more than 110 programs in 40 countries.

Professional Outcomes: Over three-fifths of Tulane grads find employment within six months of graduation. Significant numbers of alumni can be found working in the Louisiana-based Ochsner Health System or at corporations such as Deloitte, EY, Google, Microsoft, and Goldman Sachs. 31% of recent grads enrolled in graduate or professional school—the most common destinations are Tulane itself, Louisiana State University, Columbia University, and New York University.

Enrollment: 8,077
Cost of Attendance: $87,446
Median SAT: 1450
Median ACT: 32
Acceptance Rate: 15%
Retention Rate: 94%
Graduation Rate: 89%

Louisiana State University

Baton Rouge, LA

Academic Highlights: Louisiana State University provides one of the nation’s most comprehensive academic catalogs with 330 fields of study spanning virtually every discipline. While maintaining an accessible 20:1 student-to-faculty ratio, LSU delivers surprisingly personalized attention—43% of classes enroll 19 or fewer students. The university excels in early research engagement through programs like LSU Freshman Explorers, where first-year students receive paid research training and faculty mentorship. Global learning thrives with 110+ study abroad locations, ensuring students can complement their Baton Rouge education with international perspectives.

Professional Outcomes: Tigers roar into successful careers, with 60% of graduates entering the workforce at top employers like Chevron, Deloitte, and Ochsner Health, while 19% pursue advanced degrees. Alumni command strong average starting salaries of $69,446—particularly impressive for the Gulf South region. While many continue their education within the LSU system, others ascend to prestigious programs at Tulane, Loyola New Orleans, and the University of Houston, demonstrating the portability of an LSU degree across competitive professional and academic markets.

Enrollment: 32,574
Cost of Attendance: $35,218 (In-State); $51,895 (Out-of-State)
Median SAT: 1235
Median ACT: 26
Acceptance Rate: 74%
Retention Rate: 84%
Graduation Rate: 68%

Loyola University New Orleans

New Orleans, Louisiana

Academic Highlights: Loyola University New Orleans delivers a transformative Jesuit education through 59 undergraduate programs across five colleges, emphasizing the development of the whole person within a liberal arts framework. With an intimate 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio, students benefit from personalized mentorship while engaging with global perspectives through 50+ study abroad destinations spanning from Brazil to Japan. This distinctive combination of spiritual growth, academic rigor, and cultural immersion prepares graduates to excel as leaders in their careers and communities.

Professional Outcomes: Loyola graduates achieve strong career outcomes, with 53% of the Class of 2024 employed and 23% pursuing advanced degrees. Alumni launch careers at prestigious organizations, including Ochsner Health System, Penguin Random House, and Ernst & Young, while others continue their education at elite institutions like Yale and Georgetown. Most choose to build their lives in the Greater New Orleans region, contributing to the city’s vibrant professional landscape.

Enrollment: 3,205
Cost of Attendance: $67,040
Median SAT: Test Blind
Median ACT: Test Blind
Acceptance Rate: 88%
Retention Rate: 77%
Graduation Rate: 67%

Louisiana Tech University

Ruston, Louisiana

Academic Highlights: Louisiana Tech University provides comprehensive educational opportunities through 135+ degree programs across five colleges. While offering the resources of a mid-sized public university with a 22:1 student-to-faculty ratio, Louisiana Tech maintains an accessible learning environment where 63% of classes enroll fewer than 30 students. The university emphasizes hands-on learning through its Undergraduate Research and Service-Learning Symposium, where students showcase scholarly work, blending academic rigor with practical application to prepare career-ready graduates.

Professional Outcomes: Louisiana Tech graduates play vital roles in strengthening their home state’s workforce, with most establishing careers in the Greater Monroe area, Ruston, and Shreveport-Bossier City region. Alumni contribute to key employers, including Lockheed Martin, the U.S. Air Force, and Origin Bank. These outcomes reflect Louisiana Tech’s successful integration of academic excellence with career preparation.

Enrollment: 10,401
Cost of Attendance: $24,765 (In-State); $31,506 (Out-of-State)
Median SAT: 1190
Median ACT: 24
Acceptance Rate: 73%
Retention Rate: 84%
Graduation Rate: 57%

#5 Best College in Louisiana

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Lafayette, LA

Academic Highlights: The University of Louisiana at Lafayette offers students a comprehensive academic experience with 80 undergraduate majors to choose from. Through the innovative Advance: Student Research Experience program, undergraduates collaborate directly with nationally and internationally recognized faculty on groundbreaking research and creative projects. While maintaining an accessible 18:1 student-to-faculty ratio, the university provides ample opportunities for hands-on learning and mentorship that prepare students for professional success.

Professional Outcomes: UL Lafayette graduates launch rewarding careers with industry leaders across multiple sectors, including Ochsner Health, Chevron, Halliburton, and JP Morgan Chase. With early career median earnings of $59,900 growing to $109,200 at mid-career, alumni demonstrate strong earning potential. Many graduates choose to build their careers in Louisiana’s key economic hubs, with significant concentrations in Lafayette, Greater Houston, and Greater New Orleans – reflecting the university’s vital role in developing talent for the region’s workforce needs.

Enrollment: 13,179
Cost of Attendance: $29,176 (In-State); $42,904 (Out-of-State)
Median SAT: 1190
Median ACT: 25
Acceptance Rate: 89%
Retention Rate: 76%
Graduation Rate: 52%

We hope you have found our list of the Best Colleges in Louisiana to be useful and informative as you continue your college search process. We also invite you to check out some of our other resources and tools including:

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Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).