by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Louisiana, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. This list ranks **15** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 15 graduate schools 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.
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
Tulane University Of Louisiana earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Louisiana. This private not-for-profit school is set in New Orleans, LA. About 86% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,678. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,082. The median student debt is $22,077.
You'll be in good company at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans, which ranked #2 this year. This public school is set in New Orleans, LA. Students from in state pay about $10,356 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,851 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $93,560 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $31,146 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Baton Rouge, LA, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,954, while out-of-state students pay about $28,631. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,718. The median student debt is $21,348.
A rank of #4 makes Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport one of the top graduate schools in Louisiana. Set in Shreveport, LA, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,474, with out-of-state students paying around $21,345. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $76,528. Typical student debt is $40,400.
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. About 62% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $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.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette landed the #6 spot in Louisiana this year. University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a public school based in Lafayette, LA. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,418, compared with $24,146 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $42,873. The median student debt is $24,373.
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Set 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. In-state tuition and fees average $12,368.
Loyola University New Orleans came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Loyola University New Orleans is a private not-for-profit school based in New Orleans, LA. Loyola University New Orleans posts a six-year graduation rate of 59%. 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. Loyola University New Orleans students take on a median of $26,606 in debt.
Louisiana State University Shreveport did well this year, earning the #9 position. Set in Shreveport, LA, Louisiana State University Shreveport is a public institution. Louisiana State University Shreveport graduates 38% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $7,327. Median early-career earnings reach $45,300. Students borrow a median of $28,907 to complete a degree here.
University Of Louisiana Monroe did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Monroe, LA, University Of Louisiana Monroe is a public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,190, while out-of-state students pay about $21,290. University Of Louisiana Monroe graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,162. Students borrow a median of $22,465 to complete a degree here.
Our Lady Of The Lake College landed the #11 spot in Louisiana this year. Based in Baton Rouge, LA, Our Lady Of The Lake College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. 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. Graduates carry a median of $28,298 in student loans.
Xavier University Of Louisiana came in at #12 in this year's ranking. 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,979. Median early-career earnings reach $46,854. Typical student debt is $26,777.
Mcneese State University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. 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 run about $8,489, while out-of-state students pay about $9,989. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,529. Mcneese State University students take on a median of $24,433 in debt.
Nicholls State University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Nicholls State University is a public school based in Thibodaux, LA. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,149, while out-of-state students pay about $9,242. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,888 early in their careers. Nicholls State University students take on a median of $24,513 in debt.
Southeastern Louisiana University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Southeastern Louisiana University is a public school based in Hammond, LA. About 45% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $8,373 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,851. Southeastern Louisiana University graduates report median early-career earnings of $42,682. Typical student debt is $24,323.
University Of New Orleans ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. University Of New Orleans is a public school based in New Orleans, LA. Roughly 38% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,172, while out-of-state students pay about $14,008. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,720 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $23,048 in student loans.
Centenary College Of Louisiana ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Centenary College Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit school based in Shreveport, LA. About 56% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $41,200. Centenary College Of Louisiana students take on a median of $27,000 in debt.
Northwestern State University Of Louisiana placed #18 among the best graduate schools in Louisiana. Set 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, compared with $19,652 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $42,684. The median student debt is $28,061.
Louisiana College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Pineville, LA, Louisiana College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 45% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $20,266. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,294 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $26,997 in student loans.
Our Lady Of Holy Cross College landed the #20 spot in Louisiana this year. Set 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. Median early-career earnings reach $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 ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based 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. Southern University And A And M College graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,304. The median student debt is $33,288.
Grambling State University did well this year, earning the #22 position. Set in Grambling, LA, Grambling State University is a public institution. Grambling State University graduates 36% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,683, with out-of-state students paying around $16,706. Grambling State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $34,580. Students borrow a median of $40,941 to complete a degree here.
Southern University At New Orleans did well this year, earning the #23 position. This public school is set in New Orleans, LA. Southern University At New Orleans posts a six-year graduation rate of 13%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,054, while out-of-state students pay about $16,954. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,296 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $48,451 in student loans.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Graduate schools 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
