by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Louisiana, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights **19** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual analyzed 19 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
No school ranked higher than University Of Louisiana Monroe this year in Louisiana. Set in Monroe, LA, University Of Louisiana Monroe is a public institution. University Of Louisiana Monroe graduates 53% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,190, with out-of-state students paying around $21,290. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,162. Graduates carry a median of $22,465 in student loans.
The strong outcomes at Louisiana Tech University earned it the #2 place in Louisiana. Set in Ruston, LA, Louisiana Tech University is a public institution. Louisiana Tech University graduates 62% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,125, with out-of-state students paying around $16,866. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,261 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $23,846 in student loans.
The strong outcomes at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary earned it the #3 place in Louisiana. Based in New Orleans, LA, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,368.
Out of the 19 colleges in Louisiana in this year's ranking, Our Lady Of The Lake College landed the #4 spot. Set in Baton Rouge, LA, Our Lady Of The Lake College is a private not-for-profit institution. Our Lady Of The Lake College posts a six-year graduation rate of 44%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,959. Our Lady Of The Lake College graduates report median early-career earnings of $90,515. Graduates carry a median of $28,298 in student loans.
Nicholls State University came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Louisiana. Located in Thibodaux, LA, Nicholls State University is a public institution. Nicholls State University graduates 54% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,149, while out-of-state students pay about $9,242. Median early-career earnings reach $43,888. Graduates carry a median of $24,513 in student loans.
Sowela Technical Community College landed the #6 spot in Louisiana this year. Set in Lake Charles, LA, Sowela Technical Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,305. Median early-career earnings reach $45,827. Sowela Technical Community College students take on a median of $7,391 in debt.
Mcneese State University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Mcneese State University is a public school based in Lake Charles, LA. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $8,489 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,989 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $46,529. Typical student debt is $24,433.
Northwestern State University Of Louisiana did well this year, earning the #8 position. Based in Natchitoches, LA, Northwestern State University Of Louisiana is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,864, compared with $19,652 for out-of-state students. Northwestern State University Of Louisiana graduates report median early-career earnings of $42,684. Typical student debt is $28,061.
River Parishes Community College placed #9 among the best colleges in Louisiana. River Parishes Community College is a public school based in Gonzales, LA. Students from in state pay about $4,079 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,694. The median student debt is $20,608.
Louisiana State University Eunice ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Eunice, LA, Louisiana State University Eunice is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,802, while out-of-state students pay about $10,166. Louisiana State University Eunice graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,300. Typical student debt is $16,239.
Central Louisiana Technical Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Alexandria, LA, Central Louisiana Technical Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,098, while out-of-state students pay about $4,363. Median early-career earnings reach $18,707. Typical student debt is $8,625.
Baton Rouge Community College landed the #12 spot in Louisiana this year. Set in Baton Rouge, LA, Baton Rouge Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,321. Baton Rouge Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,394. Graduates carry a median of $17,624 in student loans.
L E Fletcher Technical Community College placed #13 among the best colleges in Louisiana. Located in Schriever, LA, L E Fletcher Technical Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,219. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,330. Students borrow a median of $5,396 to complete a degree here.
Delgado Community College did well this year, earning the #14 position. This public school is set in New Orleans, LA. In-state tuition and fees average $4,279. Median early-career earnings reach $36,073. Graduates carry a median of $25,283 in student loans.
South Louisiana Community College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Set in Lafayette, LA, South Louisiana Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,210 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $38,854. Typical student debt is $12,435.
Nunez Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Chalmette, LA, Nunez Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,255. Median early-career earnings reach $40,200. The median student debt is $21,296.
Louisiana State University Alexandria did well this year, earning the #17 position. Louisiana State University Alexandria is a public school based in Alexandria, LA. Louisiana State University Alexandria posts a six-year graduation rate of 34%. Students from in state pay about $7,050 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,725 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,702. The median student debt is $24,656.
Northshore Technical Community College placed #18 among the best colleges in Louisiana. Northshore Technical Community College is a public school based in Lacombe, LA. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,299. Graduates go on to earn a median of $31,601 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,815 to complete a degree here.
Bossier Parish Community College did well this year, earning the #19 position. This public school is set in Bossier City, LA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,268. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,661. Graduates carry a median of $20,593 in student loans.
Herzing University Kenner placed #20 among the best colleges in Louisiana. Located in Metairie, LA, Herzing University Kenner is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,450. Median early-career earnings reach $44,738. The median student debt is $33,897.
Louisiana Delta Community College landed the #21 spot in Louisiana this year. Set in Monroe, LA, Louisiana Delta Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,159 in tuition and fees. Louisiana Delta Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $35,839. Students borrow a median of $14,024 to complete a degree here.
Southern University At Shreveport ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Shreveport, LA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,958. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,136. The median student debt is $22,135.
Iti Technical College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. This private for-profit school is set in Baton Rouge, LA. In-state tuition and fees average $11,711. Median early-career earnings reach $52,009. The median student debt is $16,970.
Northwest Louisiana Technical College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Minden, LA, Northwest Louisiana Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,109. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $31,448. Students borrow a median of $9,927 to complete a degree here.
Louisiana Culinary Institute ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Baton Rouge, LA, Louisiana Culinary Institute is a private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,575.
Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.