by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Louisiana, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. This list ranks **19** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 19 colleges across over 20 objective factors 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:
Tulane University Of Louisiana tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges in Louisiana. Based in New Orleans, LA, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,678. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,082 early in their careers. The median student debt is $22,077.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Louisiana. Based in Baton Rouge, LA, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public institution. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College graduates 66% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,954, with out-of-state students paying around $28,631. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,718. Students borrow a median of $21,348 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #3 makes Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans one of the top colleges in Louisiana. Located in New Orleans, LA, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,356 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,851 for out-of-state students. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans graduates report median early-career earnings of $93,560. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans students take on a median of $31,146 in debt.
Out of the 19 colleges in Louisiana in this year's ranking, University Of Louisiana Lafayette landed the #4 spot. Based in Lafayette, LA, University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $10,418 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,146 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $42,873. The median student debt is $24,373.
A rank of #5 makes Louisiana Tech University one of the top colleges in Louisiana. Set in Ruston, LA, Louisiana Tech University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,125, with out-of-state students paying around $16,866. Louisiana Tech University graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,261. Typical student debt is $23,846.
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport placed #6 among the best colleges in Louisiana. Based in Shreveport, LA, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,474, compared with $21,345 for out-of-state students. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport graduates report median early-career earnings of $76,528. Typical student debt is $40,400.
Loyola University New Orleans ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Loyola University New Orleans is a private not-for-profit school based in New Orleans, LA. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,440. Loyola University New Orleans graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,040. Graduates carry a median of $26,606 in student loans.
Chamberlain University Louisiana did well this year, earning the #8 position. Set in Jefferson, LA, Chamberlain University Louisiana is a private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,680. Median early-career earnings reach $83,188. Graduates carry a median of $39,146 in student loans.
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary did well this year, earning the #9 position. Located in New Orleans, LA, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. In-state tuition and fees average $12,368.
University Of Louisiana Monroe ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Monroe, LA, University Of Louisiana Monroe is a public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,190, with out-of-state students paying around $21,290. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,162 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $22,465.
Mcneese State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Lake Charles, LA, Mcneese State University is a public institution. Mcneese State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 46%. In-state tuition and fees average $8,489, compared with $9,989 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,529 early in their careers. The median student debt is $24,433.
Southeastern Louisiana University landed the #12 spot in Louisiana this year. This public school is set in Hammond, LA. Southeastern Louisiana University graduates 45% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,373, while out-of-state students pay about $20,851. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,682. Southeastern Louisiana University students take on a median of $24,323 in debt.
Nicholls State University landed the #13 spot in Louisiana this year. Based in Thibodaux, LA, Nicholls State University is a public institution. Nicholls State University graduates 54% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,149, compared with $9,242 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $43,888. The median student debt is $24,513.
Our Lady Of The Lake College placed #14 among the best colleges in Louisiana. Located in Baton Rouge, LA, Our Lady Of The Lake College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,959. Median early-career earnings reach $90,515. Typical student debt is $28,298.
Centenary College Of Louisiana ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Shreveport, LA, Centenary College Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. Students from in state pay about $41,200 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete a degree here.
Saint Joseph Seminary College landed the #16 spot in Louisiana this year. Based in St. Benedict, LA, Saint Joseph Seminary College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,750.
Xavier University Of Louisiana ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in New Orleans, LA, Xavier University Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,979. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,854 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $26,777 in student loans.
Northwestern State University Of Louisiana ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Northwestern State University Of Louisiana is a public school based in Natchitoches, LA. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,864, while out-of-state students pay about $19,652. Early-career graduates earn a median of $42,684. Students borrow a median of $28,061 to complete a degree here.
University Of New Orleans ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in New Orleans, LA, University Of New Orleans is a public institution. About 38% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,172 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,008. Median early-career earnings reach $42,720. Typical student debt is $23,048.
Louisiana College placed #20 among the best colleges in Louisiana. This private not-for-profit school is set in Pineville, LA. Louisiana College posts a six-year graduation rate of 45%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,266. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,294. Louisiana College students take on a median of $26,997 in debt.
Louisiana State University Alexandria came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Located in Alexandria, LA, Louisiana State University Alexandria is a public institution. Louisiana State University Alexandria posts a six-year graduation rate of 34%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,050, while out-of-state students pay about $14,725. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,702 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $24,656.
Louisiana State University Shreveport placed #22 among the best colleges in Louisiana. Louisiana State University Shreveport is a public school based in Shreveport, LA. About 38% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,327. Median early-career earnings reach $45,300. Louisiana State University Shreveport students take on a median of $28,907 in debt.
Our Lady Of Holy Cross College landed the #23 spot in Louisiana this year. Based in New Orleans, LA, Our Lady Of Holy Cross College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 40% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $16,576 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $56,527. Our Lady Of Holy Cross College students take on a median of $43,500 in debt.
Southern University And A And M College placed #24 among the best colleges in Louisiana. This public school is set in Baton Rouge, LA. Southern University And A And M College posts a six-year graduation rate of 27%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,922, compared with $17,272 for out-of-state students. Southern University And A And M College graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,304. Southern University And A And M College students take on a median of $33,288 in debt.
Dillard University placed #25 among the best colleges in Louisiana. This private not-for-profit school is set in New Orleans, LA. Dillard University posts a six-year graduation rate of 43%. In-state tuition and fees run about $22,734. Dillard University graduates report median early-career earnings of $37,305. The median student debt is $33,177.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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.
