Best Colleges in Louisiana

Why Should I Consider Studying in Louisiana?

Not only is Louisiana a very fun, unique place to visit, but may be just what you’re looking for in a college experience. It’s a region incredibly rich in culture, amazing food, music, entertainment and history. Numerous schools have high marks in technology, business and the sciences, particularly in New Orleans - Tulane University as one example. Another prestigious school is Louisiana State University, located in Baton Rouge, and not only with strong academic performance but also some strong athletic performance, including the Fighting Tigers football team which has recorded 4 national championships and the 11th most wins of any college football team in the modern era.

Shifting down a gear, there’s also plenty of smaller, regional options. McNeese State University being one option, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette being another. There are also highly specialized learning routes at places like the University of New Orleans and Southeastern Louisiana University - those two are definitely worth a look if you can find a program that calls your attention.

Of course, the affordable cost of living is also a bonus, sitting well below many other states. This not only allows for increased student savings but also creates an attractive business environment which pays dividends to students by creating highly accessible employment opportunities (both during college in the form of internships and immediately following graduation for full-time careers). Energy and technology are two strong hubs in the state, and bordering Texas (the energy king) there’s plenty of energy work opportunities that spill over from the Lone Star State. Hospitality is yet another field with extremely high demand, given the destination nature of the state.

Louisiana Higher Education By The Numbers

Colleges in Louisiana

Louisiana has the 16th most colleges in the United States with 113 colleges. For a little context, that's 30 more colleges than the normal state. 72% of colleges in Louisiana are private and 28% of its colleges are public. (81 private colleges & 32 public colleges). It has the 13th highest private to public college ratio of any state.

Our favorite public colleges in Louisiana are Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans, and Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College. Our favorite private colleges are Tulane University of Louisiana, Loyola University New Orleans, and Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is the most popular top 25 college with 34,811 students.

Students in Louisiana

The least popular state has 38,825 college students. Louisiana has 276,002 more. There are 259,503 public college students and 55,324 private college students in Louisiana. It has more public college students than 52% of states but fewer pivate college students than 64% of states. Its 314,827 total students make it the 26th most popular destination in the USA. 18% of Louisiana's students go to private schools which is the 19th lowest percentage countrywide.