Best colleges in Louisiana
Every accredited four-year college ranked by the Compass Score: outcomes, entering students, cost and teaching, from federal data.
Best colleges in Louisiana24 schools
24 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Louisiana.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans, LA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Louisiana
- Value grade C+
- 86% graduate
- 2
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
Baton Rouge, LA · Public#2 in Louisiana
- Value grade B+ · Top 26%
- 69% graduate
- 3
- 4
Centenary College of Louisiana
Shreveport, LA · Private nonprofit#4 in Louisiana
- Value grade C+
- 56% graduate
- 5
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Lafayette, LA · Public#5 in Louisiana
- Value grade B · Top 39%
- 53% graduate
- 6
Remington College-Shreveport Campus
Shreveport, LA · Private nonprofitTop 15% for low debt
- Value grade C+
- 33% graduate
- 7
Loyola University New Orleans
New Orleans, LA · Private nonprofit#7 in Louisiana
- Value grade B-
- 59% graduate
- 8
University of Louisiana at Monroe
Monroe, LA · Public#8 in Louisiana
- Value grade B · Top 36%
- 54% graduate
- 9Tie
Louisiana State University-Shreveport
Shreveport, LA · PublicTop 8% for low net price
- Value grade B+ · Top 25%
- 38% graduate
- 9Tie
Nicholls State University
Thibodaux, LA · PublicTop 25% for low net price
- Value grade B · Top 40%
- 54% graduate
- 11
Xavier University of Louisiana
New Orleans, LA · Private nonprofit#11 in Louisiana
- Value grade B · Top 44%
- 49% graduate
- 12
- 13
University of Holy Cross
New Orleans, LA · Private nonprofit#13 in Louisiana
- Value grade B
- 49% graduate
- 14
Southeastern Louisiana University
Hammond, LA · Public#14 in Louisiana
- Value grade B · Top 37%
- 45% graduate
- 15
McNeese State University
Lake Charles, LA · PublicTop 23% for low net price
- Value grade B · Top 37%
- 47% graduate
- 16
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Natchitoches, LA · Public#16 in Louisiana
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 43% graduate
- 17
University of New Orleans
New Orleans, LA · PublicTop 23% for low net price
- Value grade B+ · Top 23%
- 38% graduate
- 18
Louisiana Christian University
Pineville, LA · Private nonprofit#18 in Louisiana
- Value grade B+ · Top 26%
- 44% graduate
- 19
Southern University and A & M College
Baton Rouge, LA · Public#19 in Louisiana
- Value grade C+
- 27% graduate
- 20
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University
Baton Rouge, LA · Private nonprofit#20 in Louisiana
- Value grade B · Top 46%
- 45% graduate
- 21
Louisiana State University-Alexandria
Alexandria, LA · PublicTop 8% for low net price
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- 34% graduate
- 22
- 23
Herzing University-New Orleans
Metairie, LA · Private nonprofit#23 in Louisiana
- Value grade C+
- 15% graduate
- 24
Southern University at New Orleans
New Orleans, LA · Public#24 in Louisiana
- Value grade C+
- 13% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulane University of Louisiana | About $40,000 | $20,500 | $63,268 | 86% |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | About $19,000 | $20,500 | $61,251 | 69% |
| Louisiana Tech University | About $12,000 | $22,135 | $52,279 | 64% |
| Centenary College of Louisiana | About $24,000 | $27,000 | $50,330 | 56% |
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette | About $14,000 | $22,902 | $47,089 | 53% |
| Remington College-Shreveport Campus | About $31,000 | $13,271 | $31,349 | 33% |
| Loyola University New Orleans | About $24,000 | $26,000 | $52,927 | 59% |
| University of Louisiana at Monroe | About $13,000 | $21,500 | $46,769 | 54% |
| Louisiana State University-Shreveport | About $7,000 | $22,500 | $47,477 | 38% |
| Nicholls State University | About $13,000 | $22,675 | $45,454 | 54% |
| Xavier University of Louisiana | About $17,000 | $24,053 | $52,184 | 49% |
| Dillard University | About $22,000 | $31,000 | $39,196 | 43% |
| University of Holy Cross | About $16,000 | $26,995 | $49,316 | 49% |
| Southeastern Louisiana University | About $13,000 | $22,113 | $46,482 | 45% |
| McNeese State University | About $12,000 | $23,000 | $46,453 | 47% |
| Northwestern State University of Louisiana | About $14,000 | $25,000 | $47,021 | 43% |
| University of New Orleans | About $12,000 | $18,750 | $47,872 | 38% |
| Louisiana Christian University | About $13,000 | $21,875 | $51,700 | 44% |
| Southern University and A & M College | About $20,000 | $29,251 | $43,371 | 27% |
| Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University | About $19,000 | $27,672 | $59,419 | 45% |
| Louisiana State University-Alexandria | About $7,000 | $19,000 | $42,205 | 34% |
| Grambling State University | About $20,000 | $36,500 | $41,109 | 36% |
| Herzing University-New Orleans | About $21,000 | $21,500 | $36,909 | 15% |
| Southern University at New Orleans | About $15,000 | $31,000 | $34,042 | 13% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 26
- Alaska 5
- Arizona 16
- Arkansas 23
- California 128
- Colorado 26
- Connecticut 26
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 9
- Florida 61
- Georgia 60
- Hawaii 6
- Idaho 9
- Illinois 57
- Indiana 45
- Iowa 30
- Kansas 27
- Kentucky 29
- Maine 19
- Maryland 26
- Massachusetts 67
- Michigan 44
- Minnesota 40
- Mississippi 16
- Missouri 53
- Montana 10
- Nebraska 19
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 13
- New Jersey 36
- New Mexico 11
- New York 135
- North Carolina 55
- North Dakota 9
- Ohio 99
- Oklahoma 23
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 118
- Puerto Rico 52
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 35
- South Dakota 11
- Tennessee 43
- Texas 85
- Utah 16
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 51
- Washington 24
- West Virginia 19
- Wisconsin 36
- Wyoming 3