Best colleges in Louisiana
Choosing a college is one of the most important decisions a person will make for their education, impacting everything from future earnings and employment to potential student loan debt and social circles.
While every student wants to get the best education they possibly can, there are myriad considerations to take into account: location, size, diversity, areas of focus, study abroad opportunities—the list goes on. While best college lists are often topped with the same handful of expensive Ivy League schools, the U.S. is home to more than 4,000 degree-granting schools spread out across all 50 states and several territories, with amazing education offerings for students to consider.
Stacker compiled a list of the best four-year colleges in Louisiana using rankings from Niche. Tuition, student-to-faculty ratio, acceptance rate, and graduation rate are factors considered in deciding these rankings. Location is also often a key factor in a school's appeal, whether it be a beachside location, one full of New England foliage, or proximity to tech hubs and companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Google. Online and unspecified location schools were excluded from the rankings. Keep reading to see the best schools in your state.
#25. Herzing University - New Orleans
- Acceptance rate: 92%
- Net price: $23,121
- Enrollment: 238 (46:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: not available
#24. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans
- Enrollment: 783 (1:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: not available
- City: New Orleans
- Type: Public
#23. Remington College - Shreveport
- Acceptance rate: 100%
- Net price: $20,819
- Enrollment: 348 (29:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: C-
--- Academics grade: C
--- Value grade: C
--- Diversity grade: C
#22. University of Holy Cross
- Acceptance rate: 53%
- Net price: $13,236
- Enrollment: 344 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Value grade: A-
--- Campus grade: A-
--- Diversity grade: B
#21. Southern University at New Orleans
- Acceptance rate: 72%
- Net price: $11,500
- Enrollment: 1,069 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: C-
--- Dorms grade: B
--- Campus food grade: B
--- Party grade: B-
#20. Grambling State University
- Acceptance rate: 93%
- Net price: $16,384
- Enrollment: 4,041 (28:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: C
--- Party grade: A
--- Athletics grade: A-
--- Campus food grade: A-
#19. Dillard University
- Acceptance rate: 65%
- Net price: $19,016
- Enrollment: 1,152 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: C+
--- Party grade: A-
--- Diversity grade: B
--- Campus food grade: B
#18. Southern University & A&M College
- Acceptance rate: 44%
- Net price: $16,518
- Enrollment: 4,547 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: C+
--- Party grade: A+
--- Campus food grade: A-
--- Athletics grade: B+
#17. University of New Orleans
- Acceptance rate: 83%
- Net price: $11,256
- Enrollment: 5,060 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: C+
--- Diversity grade: A-
--- Campus food grade: B+
--- Athletics grade: B
#16. Xavier University of Louisiana
- Acceptance rate: 81%
- Net price: $19,066
- Enrollment: 2,406 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B-
--- Party grade: A-
--- Diversity grade: B+
--- Location grade: B+
#15. Southeastern Louisiana University
- Acceptance rate: 97%
- Net price: $12,206
- Enrollment: 9,383 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B-
--- Campus food grade: A+
--- Campus grade: A-
--- Student life grade: A-
#14. Louisiana Christian University
- Acceptance rate: 71%
- Net price: $14,625
- Enrollment: 836 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B-
--- Safety grade: A-
--- Diversity grade: B+
--- Dorms grade: B+
#13. Louisiana State University - Alexandria
- Acceptance rate: 64%
- Net price: $7,302
- Enrollment: 2,066 (24:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B-
--- Safety grade: A+
--- Campus food grade: A
--- Diversity grade: A-
#12. Nicholls State University
- Acceptance rate: 93%
- Net price: $12,621
- Enrollment: 4,968 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B-
--- Campus food grade: A
--- Student life grade: A-
--- Athletics grade: B+
#11. Northwestern State University of Louisiana
- Acceptance rate: 95%
- Net price: $12,938
- Enrollment: 6,163 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
--- Party grade: A-
--- Student life grade: A-
--- Athletics grade: B+
#10. Centenary College of Louisiana
- Acceptance rate: 64%
- Net price: $24,079
- Enrollment: 547 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
--- Diversity grade: A-
--- Value grade: B+
--- Academics grade: B
#9. McNeese State University
- Acceptance rate: 63%
- Net price: $9,721
- Enrollment: 5,401 (20:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
--- Diversity grade: A-
--- Athletics grade: B+
--- Student life grade: B+
#8. University of Louisiana - Monroe
- Acceptance rate: 78%
- Net price: $10,134
- Enrollment: 4,568 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
--- Value grade: B+
--- Diversity grade: B+
--- Campus grade: B+
#7. Louisiana State University - Shreveport
- Acceptance rate: 83%
- Net price: $8,676
- Enrollment: 1,719 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
--- Diversity grade: A
--- Professors grade: B+
--- Safety grade: B+
#6. University of Louisiana at Lafayette
- Acceptance rate: 67%
- Net price: $12,706
- Enrollment: 11,318 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Party grade: A
--- Campus food grade: A
--- Student life grade: A
#5. Loyola University New Orleans
- Acceptance rate: 72%
- Net price: $22,596
- Enrollment: 2,955 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Party grade: A+
--- Diversity grade: A
--- Professors grade: A
#4. Louisiana State University
- Acceptance rate: 73%
- Net price: $20,352
- Enrollment: 24,097 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Athletics grade: A+
--- Party grade: A+
--- Student life grade: A
#3. Louisiana Tech University
- Acceptance rate: 64%
- Net price: $11,630
- Enrollment: 7,854 (21:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A-
--- Academics grade: A-
--- Athletics grade: A-
--- Professors grade: A-
#2. Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University
- Acceptance rate: 47%
- Net price: $14,531
- Enrollment: 525 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A-
--- Safety grade: A
--- Academics grade: A-
--- Value grade: A-
#1. Tulane University
- Acceptance rate: 11%
- Net price: $47,413
- Enrollment: 8,231 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Academics grade: A+
--- Party grade: A+
--- Professors grade: A+