by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Louisiana, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks **9** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 9 graduate schools using more than 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.
Here is the early-career salary range across the top-ranked graduate schools:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
Our analysis found Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans to be the best graduate school in Louisiana. Set 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, with out-of-state students paying around $18,851. Early-career graduates earn a median of $93,560. Graduates carry a median of $31,146 in student loans.
You'll be in good company at Tulane University Of Louisiana, which ranked #2 this year. Set in New Orleans, LA, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates 86% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,678. Median early-career earnings reach $54,082. The median student debt is $22,077.
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%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. The median student debt is $21,348.
The strong outcomes at Louisiana Tech University earned it the #4 place in Louisiana. Located in Ruston, LA, Louisiana Tech University is a public institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,125, while out-of-state students pay about $16,866. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,261. Louisiana Tech University students take on a median of $23,846 in debt.
Out of the 9 graduate schools in Louisiana in this year's ranking, University Of Louisiana Lafayette landed the #5 spot. This public school is set in Lafayette, LA. About 53% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,418 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,146 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,873. Typical student debt is $24,373.
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary did well this year, earning the #6 position. Set in New Orleans, LA, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,368.
Our Lady Of Holy Cross College landed the #7 spot in Louisiana this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in New Orleans, LA. About 40% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $16,576 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $56,527. Our Lady Of Holy Cross College students take on a median of $43,500 in debt.
University Of Louisiana Monroe landed the #8 spot in Louisiana this year. Based 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, compared with $21,290 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $47,162. Graduates carry a median of $22,465 in student loans.
University Of New Orleans placed #9 among the best graduate schools in Louisiana. This public school is set in New Orleans, LA. University Of New Orleans posts a six-year graduation rate of 38%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,172, with out-of-state students paying around $14,008. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,720. University Of New Orleans students take on a median of $23,048 in debt.
Northwestern State University Of Louisiana ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Natchitoches, LA, Northwestern State University Of Louisiana is a public institution. Northwestern State University Of Louisiana posts a six-year graduation rate of 45%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,864, compared with $19,652 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $42,684. Typical student debt is $28,061.
Southern University And A And M College landed the #11 spot in Louisiana this year. Set in Baton Rouge, LA, Southern University And A And M College is a public institution. Southern University And A And M College graduates 27% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,922, with out-of-state students paying around $17,272. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,304. Typical student debt is $33,288.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled 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.
