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10 Best Colleges in Louisiana
What’s Covered:
Called a melting pot of cultures, Louisiana has so much to offer. From the jazz-filled streets of New Orleans to the marshy bayou, the state has the best of both worlds. Louisiana also boasts some of the best food in the U.S. like Creole and Cajun cuisines. These are just a few reasons why Louisiana is a great place for college students to settle down for four years and pursue their education.
Thinking of going to college in Louisiana? Here are 10 schools to consider.
Our Ranking Methodology
When constructing our list of the 10 best colleges in Louisiana, we mainly focused on school quality, outcomes, and return on investment (ROI). We examined data such as retention rate, selectivity, endowment per student, student-faculty ratio, median earnings, and cost of attendance, among many others. If you are curious about how schools around the country stack up, you can check our full rankings.
Best Colleges in Louisiana
1. Tulane University
Location: New Orleans
Acceptance Rate: 17%
Middle 50% SAT: 1350-1490
Middle 50% ACT: 30-33
Undergrad Enrollment: 7,900
Originally founded as a medical college in 1834, Tulane became the university it is today just 13 years later. Now, it continues its tradition of excellence. Offering 1,700 courses and 70 majors across five schools, it takes students beyond the classroom—in fact, it was the first research university to require community service as part of its curriculum. Students come from every state and 58 countries to pursue bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. They gain experience outside of the classroom, too. For example, architecture students get hands-on experience working with design and construction. Many students pursue an interdisciplinary education and approximately a third double major.
Located in the heart of the vibrant city of New Orleans, it’s no surprise Tulane is considered one of the best party schools in the country. Whether they are enjoying the bars and clubs blocks away from campus or joining a fraternity or sorority (42% of students are in Greek life), there is always something for students to do. However, Tulane’s true party spirit comes out every year during Mardi Gras!
Learn more about Tulane and what it takes to get accepted.
2. Louisiana State University | LSU
Location: Baton Rouge
Acceptance Rate: 74%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1070-1290/23-29
Undergrad Enrollment: 25,200
LSU, Louisiana’s flagship university, is one of the premier research universities in the South. Across more than 330 fields of study and 14 schools and colleges, there are plenty of opportunities to gain hands-on research experience. LSU also offers over 100 online degrees and certificates as well. In addition to a robust array of undergraduate programs, LSU is one of just eight universities in the U.S. with dental, law, veterinary, medical, and MBA programs.
Learn more about LSU and what it takes to get accepted.
3. Centenary College of Louisiana
Location: Shreveport
Acceptance Rate: 60%
Middle 50% SAT: 1050-1220
Middle 50% ACT: 21-27
Undergrad Enrollment: 500
Founded in 1825, Centenary is a United Methodist Church-affiliated liberal arts college with 22 majors in the arts and sciences, along with several concentrations and two graduate programs. The college has a core curriculum that embraces the humanities, the natural sciences, the social sciences, and the visual and performing arts.
The foundation of Centenary’s curriculum is Trek, which “combines the best traditions of the liberal arts with five components of real-world knowledge and skills required of leaders in the 21st century.” Meanwhile, students learn outside the classroom in Living Learning Communities and take part in enriching activities like study-abroad opportunities.
Learn more about Centenary and what it takes to get accepted.
4. University of Louisiana at Lafayette | UL Lafayette
Location: Lafayette
Acceptance Rate: 56%
Middle 50% SAT: 1030-1250
Middle 50% ACT: 21-28
Undergrad Enrollment: 15,000
“We are smart, spirited, and seeking solutions.”
UL Lafayette is the second-largest university in the state and offers degrees from bachelor’s to doctoral, in disciplines of every niche, including computer science, environmental biology, and nursing.
It’s come a long way from its humble beginnings as Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute in 1898—an institution with no campus, no students, and no instructors. Today, it is a world-class university with top students and student-athletes who compete in the NCAA Division I.
Learn more about UL Lafayette and what it takes to get accepted.
5. Xavier University of Louisiana
Location: New Orleans
Acceptance Rate: 58%
Middle 50% SAT: 1016-1189
Middle 50% ACT: 20-26
Undergrad Enrollment: 2,400
Founded in 1925, Xavier is the only HBCU in New Orleans, today serving people of many backgrounds, races, ethnicities, countries, and more. Students can study across nearly 50 major areas at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree levels while engaging in a core curriculum.
U.S. News ranks Xavier the #3 HBCU, while the Advocate ranks it #3 in a 2020 report on the “Best Catholic Colleges and Universities.” Meanwhile, the university is also ranked highly in innovation and for promoting social mobility, as well as being called a Military Friendly School by Military Friendly.
Learn more about Xavier and what it takes to get accepted.
6. Louisiana Tech University | La. Tech
Location: Ruston
Acceptance Rate: 63%
Middle 50% SAT: 870-970
Middle 50% ACT: 22-28
Undergrad Enrollment: 10,600
Offering “rigorous and relevant academic programs,” La. Tech provides innovative education for all of its students. Students learn in the College of Applied and Natural Sciences, College of Business, College of Education, College of Engineering & Science, or College of Liberal Arts, taking advantage of the multitude of programs the school has to offer. Meanwhile, students with exceptional abilities and motivation can participate in the Honors Program.
Augmenting the classroom experience, students gain hands-on experience, thanks in part to partnerships with organizations such as NASA, the NIH, the NSF, the DoD, and FAA.
Learn more about La. Tech and what it takes to get accepted.
7. Loyola University New Orleans
Location: New Orleans
Acceptance Rate: 94%
Middle 50% SAT: 1060-1240
Middle 50% ACT: 22-28
Undergrad Enrollment: 2,900
Established in 1904 by Jesuit priests, Loyola continues in the Jesuit tradition today, though people of all faiths and backgrounds attend the school. In fact, Loyola ranks #4 in the region for diversity. Loyola offers numerous innovative and creative programs across its five colleges, including many online programs. Among them are a Bachelor of Science in Hip Hop and R&B and an undergraduate program in Entrepreneurship, to name just a few.
Learn more about Loyola University and what it takes to get accepted.
8. University of Holy Cross
Location: New Orleans
Acceptance Rate: 35%
Middle 50% SAT: N/A
Middle 50% ACT: N/A
Undergrad Enrollment: 900
Small class sizes, a faith-based environment, and exciting educational opportunities characterize UHC. The University adheres to core values of Excellence, Respect, Integrity, Inclusion, and Compassionate Service.
Programs span many disciplines, from Accounting to Food Science to Theology. Additionally, UHC offers online bachelor’s degrees in four disciplines, along with online associate’s degrees in Addiction Counseling and Juvenile Counseling.
Learn more about UHC and what it takes to get accepted.
9. Dillard University
Location: New Orleans
Acceptance Rate: 61%
Middle 50% SAT: N/A
Middle 50% ACT: N/A
Undergrad Enrollment: 1,300
Louisiana’s first HBCU, Dillard is a member of the United Methodist Church and the United Church of Christ. The liberal arts college houses 22 majors and two certificate programs.
Dillard has much to offer. It has the #1 HBCU Best Small Business Management Degree Program (Intelligent.com), it’s the #3 Producer of Physics Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded to African Americans (American Institute of Physics), and it ranks #5 in The New York Times Overall Mobility Index. And those are just some of its claims to fame.
Learn more about Dillard University and what it takes to get accepted.
10. University of New Orleans | UNO
Location: New Orleans
Acceptance Rate: 57%
Middle 50% SAT: 1050-1260
Middle 50% ACT: 20-25
Undergrad Enrollment: 6,500
At UNO, students may choose among four colleges: College of Business Administration, College of Liberal Arts, Education and Human Development, College of Engineering, and College of Sciences. The university offers majors such as Hotel, Restaurant. and Tourism Administration, Healthcare Management, Film and Theatre, Human Performance and Health Promotion, and many others, along with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.
UNO is ranked #1 in Louisiana for ethnic diversity by College Factual. Meanwhile, it was the 2018 Best and Most Affordable Online College as per SR Education Group and has held a spot on U.S. News’ list of “Least Debt” list for six years running.
Learn more about UNO and what it takes to get accepted.
What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?
Dreaming of attending one of Louisiana’s top schools? Or perhaps you have your sights set on another institution. No matter what, it’s important to understand your chances. Check out our chancing engine to find out where you stand. This free tool will also give you plenty of tips on how to improve your profile.
Our chancing engine can also help you build a balanced school list. By providing you with your odds of acceptance, you can strategically assign safety, target, and reach schools and put yourself in the ideal position to get into a great fit school. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to get started!
