With all of the graduate school options in Louisiana, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **16** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 16 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.
What Graduates Earn
This is how starting salaries are distributed among the top-ranked graduate schools:
Starting Salary ( 31530 to 64550 )
Top 16 Graduate Schools in Louisiana
Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
No school ranked higher than Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans this year in Louisiana. Based in New Orleans, LA, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,356, 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.
You'll be in good company at Tulane University Of Louisiana, which ranked #2 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in New Orleans, LA. About 86% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,678. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,507. Graduates carry a median of $22,077 in student loans.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College came in at #3 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Louisiana. Based in Baton Rouge, LA, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public institution. About 66% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,954, while out-of-state students pay about $28,631. Median early-career earnings reach $49,718. Typical student debt is $21,348.
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Louisiana. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport is a public school based in Shreveport, LA. Students from in state pay about $10,474 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,345. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport graduates report median early-career earnings of $76,528. Graduates carry a median of $40,400 in student loans.
The strong outcomes at Louisiana Tech University earned it the #5 place in Louisiana. Louisiana Tech University is a public school based in Ruston, LA. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,125, compared with $16,866 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,261. Louisiana Tech University students take on a median of $23,846 in debt.
Loyola University New Orleans ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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 placed #7 among the best graduate schools in Louisiana. Located in New Orleans, LA, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary posts a six-year graduation rate of 70%. Students from in state pay about $12,368 in tuition and fees.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette landed the #8 spot in Louisiana this year. Located in Lafayette, LA, University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,418, compared with $24,146 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $42,873. Graduates carry a median of $24,373 in student loans.
Our Lady Of The Lake College landed the #9 spot in Louisiana this year. Based 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%. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,959. Graduates go on to earn a median of $90,515 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $28,298 in student loans.
Xavier University Of Louisiana ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Set in New Orleans, LA, Xavier University Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $28,979. Early-career graduates earn a median of $46,854. Xavier University Of Louisiana students take on a median of $26,777 in debt.
Our Lady Of Holy Cross College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Based in New Orleans, LA, Our Lady Of Holy Cross College is a private not-for-profit institution. Our Lady Of Holy Cross College posts a six-year graduation rate of 40%. In-state tuition and fees average $16,576. Median early-career earnings reach $56,527. Our Lady Of Holy Cross College students take on a median of $43,500 in debt.
University Of New Orleans ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This public school is set in New Orleans, LA. The six-year graduation rate is 38%. In-state tuition and fees run about $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.
University Of Louisiana Monroe placed #13 among the best graduate schools in Louisiana. This public school is set in Monroe, LA. University Of Louisiana Monroe posts a six-year graduation rate of 53%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,190, while out-of-state students pay about $21,290. Median early-career earnings reach $47,162. The median student debt is $22,465.
Louisiana State University Shreveport placed #14 among the best graduate schools in Louisiana. Located in Shreveport, LA, Louisiana State University Shreveport is a public institution. Louisiana State University Shreveport posts a six-year graduation rate of 38%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,327. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,300 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $28,907 to complete a degree here.
Northwestern State University Of Louisiana landed the #15 spot in Louisiana this year. This public school is set in Natchitoches, LA. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $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.
Southern University And A And M College did well this year, earning the #16 position. Southern University And A And M College is a public school based in Baton Rouge, LA. Southern University And A And M College graduates 27% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,922, compared with $17,272 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,304 early in their careers. Southern University And A And M College students take on a median of $33,288 in debt.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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).
With all of the graduate school options in Louisiana, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **16** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
