2026 Best Colleges for the Money (No Aid) in Louisiana
Looking for the best colleges for the money in Louisiana? Our ranking highlights 30 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. This is our No Aid ranking, which weighs each school’s published sticker price (tuition, fees, and room and board) before financial aid — use Customize Your Rankings below to narrow the list.
To help you make your decision, College Factual evaluated 30 schools to compile this 2026 best-value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
See What’s Included in This Value Report:
Finding Your Best College Match
We analyzed 30 schools in Louisiana to surface the strongest return on investment. Our ranking is based on objective factors.
What We Measure
To determine a school’s value, we first add up average tuition, fees, and room and board — the list price before aid is applied (our No Aid ranking). But a school that delivers value must also be a great school overall. We weigh cost against outcomes such as graduation rates, educational resources, and what graduates earn.
That balance of cost and outcomes is what drives the ranking below. Read more about our methodology.
Customizing Your List
The best value for you depends on what and where you want to study. Refine the list by location and field of study, or explore related rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
Top 25 Best Colleges for the Money in Louisiana
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
For return on investment, no school beat Louisiana State University Shreveport this year in Louisiana. Set in Shreveport, LA, Louisiana State University Shreveport is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,327. Louisiana State University Shreveport students take on a median of $28,907 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,477 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $28,907 median debt. Louisiana State University Shreveport has an acceptance rate of 50%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Louisiana Technical Community College earned it the #2 place in Louisiana. Set in Alexandria, LA, Central Louisiana Technical Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,098, while out-of-state students pay about $4,363. The median program debt is $8,625. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $29,558. That is a strong return on a $8,625 median debt.
Sowela Technical Community College came in at #3 on this year's best-value ranking in Louisiana. Based in Lake Charles, LA, Sowela Technical Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,305. Typical student debt is $7,391. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $32,303. That is a strong return on a $7,391 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Louisiana State University Alexandria one of the best values in Louisiana. Louisiana State University Alexandria is a public school based in Alexandria, LA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,050, with out-of-state students paying around $14,725. Students borrow a median of $24,656 to complete their program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $42,205. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at River Parishes Community College earned it the #5 place in Louisiana. Set in Gonzales, LA, River Parishes Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,079. River Parishes Community College students take on a median of $20,608 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,848 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Louisiana State University Eunice landed the #6 spot for value in Louisiana this year. This public school is set in Eunice, LA. In-state tuition and fees average $4,802, compared with $10,166 for out-of-state students. The median program debt is $16,239. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $36,498. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Louisiana Community College landed the #7 spot for value in Louisiana this year. Located in Lafayette, LA, South Louisiana Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,210. Students borrow a median of $12,435 to complete their program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $31,432 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Louisiana Delta Community College came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Louisiana Delta Community College is a public school based in Monroe, LA. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,159. Louisiana Delta Community College students take on a median of $14,024 in debt. Louisiana Delta Community College alumni report median earnings of $30,438 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northshore Technical Community College placed #9 among the best values in Louisiana. Based in Lacombe, LA, Northshore Technical Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,299 in tuition and fees. The median program debt is $14,815. Graduates go on to earn a median of $29,734 ten years after entry. Set against $14,815 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Nunez Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. This public school is set in Chalmette, LA. Students from in state pay about $4,255 in tuition and fees. Nunez Community College students take on a median of $21,296 in debt. Nunez Community College alumni report median earnings of $35,343 a decade after entry. Set against $21,296 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bossier Parish Community College landed the #11 spot for value in Louisiana this year. Located in Bossier City, LA, Bossier Parish Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,268. Students borrow a median of $20,593 to complete their program here. Bossier Parish Community College alumni report median earnings of $34,502 a decade after entry. Set against $20,593 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Baton Rouge Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Set in Baton Rouge, LA, Baton Rouge Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,321. Graduates carry a median of $17,624 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $34,581. That is a strong return on a $17,624 median debt.
Mcneese State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. This public school is set in Lake Charles, LA. Students from in state pay about $8,489 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,989. Typical student debt is $24,433. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $46,453. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Orleans placed #14 among the best values in Louisiana. University Of New Orleans is a public school based in New Orleans, LA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,172, compared with $14,008 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,048 to complete their program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $47,872. Set against $23,048 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of New Orleans admits about 74% of applicants.
University Of Louisiana Monroe placed #15 among the best values in Louisiana. Located in Monroe, LA, University Of Louisiana Monroe is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,190, while out-of-state students pay about $21,290. Graduates carry a median of $22,465 in student loans. Median earnings reach $46,769 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $22,465 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
L E Fletcher Technical Community College placed #16 among the best values in Louisiana. Located in Schriever, LA, L E Fletcher Technical Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,219. Graduates carry a median of $5,396 in student loans. L E Fletcher Technical Community College alumni report median earnings of $32,189 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $5,396 median debt.
Louisiana Tech University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Set in Ruston, LA, Louisiana Tech University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,125, compared with $16,866 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt is $23,846. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $52,279. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 86% of those who apply are admitted.
Nicholls State University placed #18 among the best values in Louisiana. Based in Thibodaux, LA, Nicholls State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,149, with out-of-state students paying around $9,242. Graduates carry a median of $24,513 in student loans. Median earnings reach $45,454 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Southeastern Louisiana University landed the #19 spot for value in Louisiana this year. Located in Hammond, LA, Southeastern Louisiana University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,373, compared with $20,851 for out-of-state students. Southeastern Louisiana University students take on a median of $24,323 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,482 ten years after entry. Set against $24,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Delgado Community College landed the #20 spot for value in Louisiana this year. Located in New Orleans, LA, Delgado Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,279. Graduates carry a median of $25,283 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $33,305. That is a strong return on a $25,283 median debt.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Based in Lafayette, LA, University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,418 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,146 for out-of-state students. University Of Louisiana Lafayette students take on a median of $24,373 in debt. Median earnings reach $47,089 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $24,373 median debt. University Of Louisiana Lafayette admits about 87% of applicants.
Northwestern State University Of Louisiana offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Located in Natchitoches, LA, Northwestern State University Of Louisiana is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,864, with out-of-state students paying around $19,652. Northwestern State University Of Louisiana students take on a median of $28,061 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $47,021. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Northwest Louisiana Technical College landed the #23 spot for value in Louisiana this year. This public school is set in Minden, LA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,109. Students borrow a median of $9,927 to complete their program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $32,503 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $9,927 median debt.
Southern University At Shreveport landed the #24 spot for value in Louisiana this year. Located in Shreveport, LA, Southern University At Shreveport is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,958. Typical student debt is $22,135. Median earnings reach $33,099 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Our Lady Of Holy Cross College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Our Lady Of Holy Cross College is a private not-for-profit school based in New Orleans, LA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,576. Graduates carry a median of $43,500 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,316 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Our Lady Of Holy Cross College has an acceptance rate of 74%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Schools in Louisiana
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
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Notes and References
*Averages shown above reflect the top 30 ranked schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 30 schools evaluated.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
