Liberal arts colleges are a great option for students seeking a well-rounded education in an intimate campus setting. The best liberal arts colleges in Louisiana offer a diverse selection of degree programs with opportunities for a highly individualized educational experience.
Though the culture in Louisiana is sure to draw you in, the affordability of its 26 public colleges and universities also makes it an appealing place to earn your degree. Seven community colleges average $4,000 for tuition, and the cost to attend its public institutions ranges from $5,000 to $12,000. With just shy of 27,000 students, Louisiana State University (LSU) is the largest public university, boasting a tuition rate of $12,000.
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LSU, located in Baton Rouge, offers degrees in engineering, education, theater, and landscape architecture. For those looking to merge their faith with their education, the state also has eight religious institutions, including Catholic, Methodist, and Baptist schools. Prospective students can also attend one of 10 private colleges, including Tulane University and Louisiana Culinary Institute. Tulane University’s tuition rate is $55,000, and it is best known for its medical and law schools. Attorneys in Louisiana who have debt from law school may be eligible to receive $5,000 annually through the Loan Repayment Assistance Program from the Bar Foundation.
Jazz, beignets, and Mardi Gras — the culture, food, and music of Louisiana make it an irresistible place to indulge. This L-shaped state is nicknamed The Pelican State, but the American alligator is also known to roam its lands. Wildlife aside, Louisiana is home to 36 higher education institutions that award associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
Louisiana offers a variety of higher education experiences, serving a full range of budgetary needs and career goals. Find out more about earning your degree from one of Louisiana’s colleges or universities.
Related: Differences between research universities and teaching colleges
A liberal arts college is a school that puts a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. We’ve identified 13 liberal arts colleges in Louisiana. To be ranked among the best liberal arts colleges in Louisiana, schools must fully accredited institutions.
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
43%
Graduation
28%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
990/18
Southern University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$26K
Acceptance
81%
Graduation
50%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1075/23
Xavier University of Louisiana’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
97%
Graduation
40%
Student body
11K
Southeastern Louisiana University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$19K
Acceptance
65%
Graduation
50%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1050/21
Dillard University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
93%
Graduation
42%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
985/18
Grambling State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
63%
Graduation
44%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
1125/22
McNeese State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
93%
Graduation
45%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
1086/22
Nicholls State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
95%
Graduation
47%
Student body
9K
Median SAT/ACT
1110/21
Northwestern State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
72%
Graduation
19%
Student body
2K
Southern University at New Orleans’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$38K
Acceptance
64%
Graduation
56%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1155/25
Centenary College of Louisiana’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
64%
Graduation
31%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
995/19
Louisiana State University of Alexandria’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
83%
Graduation
37%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
1089/22
Louisiana State University Shreveport’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$18K
Acceptance
71%
Graduation
34%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
985/20
Louisiana Christian University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$15K
Acceptance
53%
Graduation
38%
Student body
<1K
University of Holy Cross’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utiulized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.