by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Louisiana, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks **30** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual evaluated 30 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.
Not every student is looking for the same thing. Refine the list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our tool College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Here are the top-ranked colleges:
Tulane University Of Louisiana earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in Louisiana. Based in New Orleans, LA, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. Tulane University Of Louisiana posts a six-year graduation rate of 86%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,678. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,082. Tulane University Of Louisiana students take on a median of $22,077 in debt.
A rank of #2 makes Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans one of the top colleges in Louisiana. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $18,851. Early-career graduates earn a median of $93,560. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans students take on a median of $31,146 in debt.
You'll be in good company at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College, which ranked #3 this year. This public school is set in Baton Rouge, LA. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,954, with out-of-state students paying around $28,631. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,718 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $21,348.
Out of the 30 colleges in Louisiana in this year's ranking, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport landed the #4 spot. Set in Shreveport, LA, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,474, compared with $21,345 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $76,528 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $40,400 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at Louisiana Tech University earned it the #5 place 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, compared with $16,866 for out-of-state students. Louisiana Tech University graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,261. Graduates carry a median of $23,846 in student loans.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette placed #6 among the best colleges in Louisiana. Based in Lafayette, LA, University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. 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.
Loyola University New Orleans placed #7 among the best colleges in Louisiana. Loyola University New Orleans is a private not-for-profit school based in New Orleans, LA. About 59% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $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.
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Located in New Orleans, LA, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,368.
Chamberlain University Louisiana did well this year, earning the #9 position. Set in Jefferson, LA, Chamberlain University Louisiana is a private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $20,680 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $83,188. Graduates carry a median of $39,146 in student loans.
University Of Louisiana Monroe ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Monroe, LA, University Of Louisiana Monroe is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,190, while out-of-state students pay about $21,290. University Of Louisiana Monroe graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,162. The median student debt is $22,465.
Louisiana State University Shreveport came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Set in Shreveport, LA, Louisiana State University Shreveport is a public institution. 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 The Lake College placed #12 among the best colleges in Louisiana. Set 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,959. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $90,515. The median student debt is $28,298.
Sowela Technical Community College came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Based in Lake Charles, LA, Sowela Technical Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,305. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,827. The median student debt is $7,391.
Mcneese State University landed the #14 spot in Louisiana this year. This public school is set in Lake Charles, LA. About 46% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $8,489 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,989. Mcneese State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,529. The median student debt is $24,433.
Southeastern Louisiana University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in Hammond, LA, Southeastern Louisiana University is a public institution. About 45% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,373, compared with $20,851 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $42,682. Typical student debt is $24,323.
Nicholls State University placed #16 among the best colleges in Louisiana. Based in Thibodaux, LA, Nicholls State University is a public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $8,149, with out-of-state students paying around $9,242. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,888. Nicholls State University students take on a median of $24,513 in debt.
Central Louisiana Technical Community College placed #17 among the best colleges 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. Median early-career earnings reach $18,707. Typical student debt is $8,625.
River Parishes Community College landed the #18 spot in Louisiana this year. Set in Gonzales, LA, River Parishes Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,079. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,694 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,608 to complete a degree here.
Xavier University Of Louisiana placed #19 among the best colleges in Louisiana. Xavier University Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit school based in New Orleans, LA. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $28,979. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,854. Students borrow a median of $26,777 to complete a degree here.
Saint Joseph Seminary College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in St. Benedict, LA, Saint Joseph Seminary College 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 $27,750.
Centenary College Of Louisiana landed the #21 spot in Louisiana this year. Located in Shreveport, LA, Centenary College Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. Centenary College Of Louisiana graduates 56% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,200. Centenary College Of Louisiana students take on a median of $27,000 in debt.
Northwestern State University Of Louisiana ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Natchitoches, LA, Northwestern State University Of Louisiana is a public institution. About 45% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,864, with out-of-state students paying around $19,652. Early-career graduates earn a median of $42,684. Northwestern State University Of Louisiana students take on a median of $28,061 in debt.
University Of New Orleans came in at #23 in this year's ranking. University Of New Orleans is a public school based in New Orleans, LA. The six-year graduation rate is 38%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,172, compared with $14,008 for out-of-state students. University Of New Orleans graduates report median early-career earnings of $42,720. Graduates carry a median of $23,048 in student loans.
Nunez Community College landed the #24 spot in Louisiana this year. This public school is set in Chalmette, LA. Students from in state pay about $4,255 in tuition and fees. Nunez Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,200. Typical student debt is $21,296.
South Louisiana Community College did well this year, earning the #25 position. Located in Lafayette, LA, South Louisiana Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,210. South Louisiana Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $38,854. Students borrow a median of $12,435 to complete a degree here.
These colleges also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Colleges are scored on 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
