Best Small Colleges in Louisiana 2026

Badge for BEST IN LOUISIANA SMALL COLLEGES
By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Chloe Dembski
Updated:

Small colleges in Louisiana are a great option for students interested in a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services. Whether the focus is on the technical or on the liberal arts, small colleges give you the chance to pursue a well-rounded education while working closely with classmates and professors in a dynamic community atmosphere.

Key Takeaways

  • Many of the best small colleges in Louisiana emphasize community involvement, offering students opportunities for service learning, internships, and partnerships with local organizations, enriching their educational experience and fostering civic responsibility.
  • With smaller class sizes, the best small colleges in Louisiana provide individualized attention, fostering close relationships between students and faculty, which enhances academic success and mentorship opportunities.
  • The colleges in our ranking offer programs that deeply engage with Louisiana’s rich cultural heritage, including courses and activities centered around Creole and Cajun traditions, music, and cuisine, providing students with unique cultural experiences.

Best Small Colleges in Louisiana in 2026

  1. Loyola University New Orleans
  2. Dillard University
  3. Xavier University of Louisiana
  4. Grambling State University
  5. Centenary College of Louisiana
  6. Southern University at New Orleans
  7. Louisiana State University of Alexandria
  8. Louisiana Christian University
  9. University of Holy Cross

The following list highlights the best small colleges and universities in Louisiana, focused primarily on four‑year undergraduate institutions that maintain student bodies under 5,000. To keep the selection tight and comparable, included schools are fully accredited and, while most are primarily undergraduate, a few also offer graduate programs. For a quick searchable view, we’ve identified 9 small colleges that meet these criteria.

Use the list to compare fit factors that matter at smaller campuses—student‑faculty ratio, program strengths, campus culture, and residential life—rather than assuming size alone predicts quality. Each entry highlights what distinguishes the school and what type of student is most likely to thrive there, so you can move quickly from overview to a short list for campus visits or applications.

Best Small Colleges in Louisiana

  1. #1

    Loyola University New Orleans

    New Orleans , LA
    #1 Best Christian Colleges in Louisiana 2025 #2 Best Private Colleges in Louisiana 2024 #4 Best Research Universities in Louisiana 2026 #4 Best Colleges in Louisiana 2025

    Tuition + fees

    $45K

    Acceptance

    78%

    Graduation

    67%

    Student body

    5K

    Career Outlook for degree at Loyola University New Orleans

    Cost of Degree: $47,240
    Expenses: $19,800
    Starting Salary: $52,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 19 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Loyola University New Orleans known for?

    Loyola University New Orleans’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Compare school
  2. #2

    Dillard University

    New Orleans , LA
    #8 Best Colleges and Universities by Academic Stewardship #17 Most Influential HBCUs in the US Ranked for 2026 #21 50 Best Christian Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities 2025 #2 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Louisiana 2026

    Tuition + fees

    $20K

    Acceptance

    80%

    Graduation

    48%

    Student body

    1K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1082/22

    Career Outlook for degree at Dillard University

    Cost of Degree: $22,194
    Expenses: $19,010
    Starting Salary: $37,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Dillard University known for?

    Dillard University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Compare school
  3. #3

    Xavier University of Louisiana

    New Orleans , LA
    #11 Most Influential HBCUs in the US Ranked for 2026 #3 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Louisiana 2026 #3 Best Private Colleges in Louisiana 2024 #3 Best Christian Colleges in Louisiana 2025

    Tuition + fees

    $27K

    Acceptance

    95%

    Graduation

    51%

    Student body

    4K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1080/22

    Career Outlook for degree at Xavier University of Louisiana

    Cost of Degree: $27,868
    Expenses: $13,886
    Starting Salary: $64,500
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Xavier University of Louisiana known for?

    Xavier University of Louisiana’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Compare school
  4. #4

    Grambling State University

    Grambling , LA
    #5 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Louisiana 2026 #7 Best Public Colleges in Louisiana 2024 #8 Most Affordable Colleges in Louisiana 2026 #9 Best Grad Schools in Louisiana 2024

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    42%

    Graduation

    37%

    Student body

    6K

    Median SAT/ACT

    915/17

    Career Outlook for degree at Grambling State University

    Cost of Degree: $7,683
    Expenses: $17,980
    Starting Salary: $32,800
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Grambling State University known for?

    Grambling State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Compare school
  6. #5

    Centenary College of Louisiana

    Shreveport , LA
    #4 Best Christian Colleges in Louisiana 2025 #5 Best Private Colleges in Louisiana 2024 #8 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Louisiana 2026

    Tuition + fees

    $39K

    Acceptance

    64%

    Graduation

    60%

    Student body

    <1K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1170/24

    Career Outlook for degree at Centenary College of Louisiana

    Cost of Degree: $40,000
    Expenses: $20,960
    Starting Salary: $52,500
    Cost Recoup Time: 18 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Centenary College of Louisiana known for?

    Centenary College of Louisiana’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Compare school
  7. #6

    Southern University at New Orleans

    New Orleans , LA
    #10 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Louisiana 2026 #5 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Social Work Degrees #11 Best Colleges and Universities for Criminal Justice Degrees 2025 #23 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Education Degrees

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Acceptance

    94%

    Graduation

    17%

    Student body

    3K

    Career Outlook for degree at Southern University at New Orleans

    Cost of Degree: $7,490
    Expenses: $17,564
    Starting Salary: $32,100
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Southern University at New Orleans known for?

    Southern University at New Orleans’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Compare school
  8. #7

    Louisiana State University of Alexandria

    Alexandria , LA

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Acceptance

    58%

    Graduation

    31%

    Student body

    5K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1010/19

    Career Outlook for degree at Louisiana State University of Alexandria

    Cost of Degree: $7,050
    Expenses: $14,130
    Starting Salary: $36,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Louisiana State University of Alexandria known for?

    Louisiana State University of Alexandria’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Compare school
  9. #8

    Louisiana Christian University

    Pineville , LA
    #5 Best Christian Colleges in Louisiana 2025 #6 Best Private Colleges in Louisiana 2024

    Tuition + fees

    $20K

    Acceptance

    75%

    Graduation

    36%

    Student body

    1K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1105/20

    Career Outlook for degree at Louisiana Christian University

    Cost of Degree: $19,750
    Expenses: $14,726
    Starting Salary: $48,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Louisiana Christian University known for?

    Louisiana Christian University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Compare school
  10. #9

    University of Holy Cross

    New Orleans , LA
    #6 Best Christian Colleges in Louisiana 2025 #7 Best Private Colleges in Louisiana 2024

    Tuition + fees

    $16K

    Acceptance

    87%

    Graduation

    36%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Holy Cross

    Cost of Degree: $16,160
    Expenses: $17,390
    Starting Salary: $40,700
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is University of Holy Cross known for?

    University of Holy Cross’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Compare school
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Louisiana’s Best Small College in Your Area of Interest

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2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 we utilized 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.

  1. Dillard University
  2. Loyola University New Orleans
  3. Louisiana Christian University
  4. Xavier University of Louisiana
  5. Centenary College of Louisiana
  6. Louisiana State University Shreveport
  7. Grambling State University
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