by our College Data Analytics TeamTulane University Of Louisiana ranks #1 of 28 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges in Louisiana ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 50% six-year graduation rate and $67,605 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in Louisiana, it can be hard to know where to start. We have ranked **28** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 28 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.
Tulane University Of Louisiana leads the 28 ranked colleges in Louisiana, followed by Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College (#2) and Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans (#3). Explore the leading colleges below:
Our analysis found Tulane University Of Louisiana to be the best college in Louisiana. Based in New Orleans, LA, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,678. Median early-career earnings reach $53,507. Typical 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. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public school based in Baton Rouge, LA. About 66% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $11,954, while out-of-state students pay about $28,631. Median early-career earnings reach $49,718. The median student debt is $21,348.
Out of the 28 colleges in Louisiana in this year's ranking, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans landed the #3 spot. Based in New Orleans, LA, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,356, while out-of-state students pay about $18,851. Median early-career earnings reach $93,560. Graduates carry a median of $31,146 in student loans.
Out of the 28 colleges in Louisiana in this year's ranking, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport landed the #4 spot. Based in Shreveport, LA, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,474 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,345 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $76,528 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $40,400 in student loans.
Louisiana Tech University came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Louisiana. Based in Ruston, LA, Louisiana Tech University is a public institution. Louisiana Tech University posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,125, with out-of-state students paying around $16,866. Median early-career earnings reach $49,261. Students borrow a median of $23,846 to complete a degree here.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette placed #6 among the best colleges in Louisiana. Located in Lafayette, LA, University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,418, compared with $24,146 for out-of-state students. University Of Louisiana Lafayette graduates report median early-career earnings of $42,873. Students borrow a median of $24,373 to complete a degree here.
Chamberlain University Louisiana did well this year, earning the #7 position. Based in Jefferson, LA, Chamberlain University Louisiana is a private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,680. Chamberlain University Louisiana graduates report median early-career earnings of $83,188. Graduates carry a median of $39,146 in student loans.
Loyola University New Orleans came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Set in New Orleans, LA, Loyola University New Orleans is a private not-for-profit institution. Loyola University New Orleans graduates 59% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,440. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,040. Loyola University New Orleans students take on a median of $26,606 in debt.
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary placed #9 among the best colleges in Louisiana. Based in New Orleans, LA, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,368.
University Of Louisiana Monroe landed the #10 spot in Louisiana this year. Set in Monroe, LA, University Of Louisiana Monroe is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,190, while out-of-state students pay about $21,290. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,162 early in their careers. University Of Louisiana Monroe students take on a median of $22,465 in debt.
Xavier University Of Louisiana landed the #11 spot in Louisiana this year. Based in New Orleans, LA, Xavier University Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $28,979 in tuition and fees. Xavier University Of Louisiana graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,854. The median student debt is $26,777.
Mcneese State University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Set in Lake Charles, LA, Mcneese State University is a public institution. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,489, while out-of-state students pay about $9,989. Median early-career earnings reach $46,529. Students borrow a median of $24,433 to complete a degree here.
Southeastern Louisiana University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Southeastern Louisiana University is a public school based in Hammond, LA. Southeastern Louisiana University posts a six-year graduation rate of 45%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,373, with out-of-state students paying around $20,851. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,682 early in their careers. Southeastern Louisiana University students take on a median of $24,323 in debt.
Nicholls State University landed the #14 spot in Louisiana this year. This public school is set in Thibodaux, LA. Nicholls State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,149, with out-of-state students paying around $9,242. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,888. The median student debt is $24,513.
Our Lady Of The Lake College placed #15 among the best colleges in Louisiana. Based in Baton Rouge, LA, Our Lady Of The Lake College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 44% of students finish within six years. 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. Typical student debt is $28,298.
Northwestern State University Of Louisiana did well this year, earning the #16 position. Located in Natchitoches, LA, Northwestern State University Of Louisiana is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. In-state tuition and fees average $8,864, while out-of-state students pay about $19,652. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,684 early in their careers. Northwestern State University Of Louisiana students take on a median of $28,061 in debt.
Louisiana College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Pineville, LA, Louisiana College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $20,266. Louisiana College graduates report median early-career earnings of $57,294. Graduates carry a median of $26,997 in student loans.
University Of New Orleans came in at #18 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in New Orleans, LA. Roughly 38% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,172, compared with $14,008 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,720 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $23,048.
Saint Joseph Seminary College landed the #19 spot in Louisiana this year. Saint Joseph Seminary College is a private not-for-profit school based in St. Benedict, LA. About 48% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $27,750.
Louisiana State University Alexandria did well this year, earning the #20 position. This public school is set in Alexandria, LA. Louisiana State University Alexandria graduates 34% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,050, while out-of-state students pay about $14,725. Louisiana State University Alexandria graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,702. Graduates carry a median of $24,656 in student loans.
Centenary College Of Louisiana ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Shreveport, LA, Centenary College Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. Centenary College Of Louisiana posts a six-year graduation rate of 56%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,200. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Louisiana State University Shreveport did well this year, earning the #22 position. This public school is set in Shreveport, LA. About 38% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $7,327. Median early-career earnings reach $45,300. The median student debt is $28,907.
Our Lady Of Holy Cross College placed #23 among the best colleges in Louisiana. Based in New Orleans, LA, Our Lady Of Holy Cross College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. In-state tuition and fees average $16,576. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,527 early in their careers. Our Lady Of Holy Cross College students take on a median of $43,500 in debt.
Southern University And A And M College did well this year, earning the #24 position. Set in Baton Rouge, LA, Southern University And A And M College is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 27%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,922, while out-of-state students pay about $17,272. Median early-career earnings reach $45,304. The median student debt is $33,288.
Dillard University came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Set in New Orleans, LA, Dillard University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,734. Early-career graduates earn a median of $37,305. Students borrow a median of $33,177 to complete a degree here.
These 3 colleges rank #26 through #28 of 28 in Louisiana. 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), 2027 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
See our data sources and methodologies.
