Best Online Master’s Programs in Louisiana 2024

Badge for BEST ONLINE MASTER'S IN LOUISIANA

By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Academic Influence Staff

Published: May 11, 2022
Updated: Jan 31, 2024

Key Takeaways

The best return on investment from an online master’s degree will come from getting hired in one of Louisiana’s fastest growing industries, such as manufacturing or aerospace.
The unemployment rate in Louisiana is lower than the national unemployment rate, making it a great location to earn an online master’s from.
Many of the online colleges in Louisiana offer tuition that is much lower than the national average, making Louisiana an affordable state to consider for online master’s programs.

Top 10 Online Master's Programs in Louisiana

Louisiana State University
University of New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans
Louisiana Tech University
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Southeastern Louisiana University
University of Louisiana at Monroe
McNeese State University
Nicholls State University
Northwestern State University

Louisiana State University
University of New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Louisiana Tech University
Southeastern Louisiana University
Northwestern State University
McNeese State University
University of Louisiana at Monroe
Nicholls State University

Southeastern Louisiana University 99%
Nicholls State University 98%
Northwestern State University 98%
Loyola University New Orleans 78%
Louisiana State University 76%
University of Louisiana at Lafayette 75%
McNeese State University 71%
University of Louisiana at Monroe 70%
University of New Orleans 70%
Louisiana Tech University 62%

Louisiana Tech University 23 to 1
Louisiana State University 22 to 1
McNeese State University 19 to 1
University of Louisiana at Lafayette 18 to 1
University of New Orleans 18 to 1
Southeastern Louisiana University 18 to 1
Nicholls State University 17 to 1
University of Louisiana at Monroe 17 to 1
Northwestern State University 17 to 1
Loyola University New Orleans 13 to 1

Loyola University New Orleans $45,030
Louisiana State University $8,038
Louisiana Tech University $6,401
University of New Orleans $6,090
University of Louisiana at Monroe $5,788
Southeastern Louisiana University $5,777
University of Louisiana at Lafayette $5,407
Northwestern State University $5,180
McNeese State University $5,147
Nicholls State University $4,922

Loyola University New Orleans $18,091
Louisiana State University $9,132
Southeastern Louisiana University $6,684
University of Louisiana at Monroe $6,490
University of New Orleans $6,090
Northwestern State University $5,738
McNeese State University $5,703
Nicholls State University $5,686
University of Louisiana at Lafayette $5,511
Louisiana Tech University $5,416

Northwestern State University
Nicholls State University
McNeese State University
University of Louisiana at Monroe
Southeastern Louisiana University
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Louisiana Tech University
Loyola University New Orleans
University of New Orleans
Louisiana State University

Nicholls State University
University of Louisiana at Monroe
McNeese State University
Northwestern State University
Southeastern Louisiana University
Louisiana Tech University
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Loyola University New Orleans
University of New Orleans
Louisiana State University

Louisiana Tech University 62%
University of New Orleans 70%
University of Louisiana at Monroe 70%
McNeese State University 71%
University of Louisiana at Lafayette 75%
Louisiana State University 76%
Loyola University New Orleans 78%
Northwestern State University 98%
Nicholls State University 98%
Southeastern Louisiana University 99%

Loyola University New Orleans 13 to 1
Nicholls State University 17 to 1
University of Louisiana at Monroe 17 to 1
Northwestern State University 17 to 1
University of Louisiana at Lafayette 18 to 1
University of New Orleans 18 to 1
Southeastern Louisiana University 18 to 1
McNeese State University 19 to 1
Louisiana State University 22 to 1
Louisiana Tech University 23 to 1

Nicholls State University $4,922
McNeese State University $5,147
Northwestern State University $5,180
University of Louisiana at Lafayette $5,407
Southeastern Louisiana University $5,777
University of Louisiana at Monroe $5,788
University of New Orleans $6,090
Louisiana Tech University $6,401
Louisiana State University $8,038
Loyola University New Orleans $45,030

Louisiana Tech University $5,416
University of Louisiana at Lafayette $5,511
Nicholls State University $5,686
McNeese State University $5,703
Northwestern State University $5,738
University of New Orleans $6,090
University of Louisiana at Monroe $6,490
Southeastern Louisiana University $6,684
Louisiana State University $9,132
Loyola University New Orleans $18,091

Table of Contents

Do you have a bachelor’s degree or years of work experience and would like to expand your career opportunities? A master’s degree through one of the best online colleges in Louisiana could be the answer.

A master’s degree from a reputable university, whether earned online or on-campus, can open doors to better opportunities, earning potential, and subject-matter knowledge. This degree will give you the credentials required to succeed, whether aiming to specialize, change careers, or advance within your existing field.

Louisiana’s universities, known for their rich academic tradition, supportive communities, and robust online learning environments, offer a wide range of master’s programs to suit your schedule, expectations, and aspirations.

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Louisiana

With a wide range of online colleges in Louisiana, students can choose from numerous excellent and highly respected undergraduate and graduate programs.

Many of the top Louisiana schools are noted for their affordability as well. Louisiana offers residents low in-state tuition rates at its 26 public colleges.

If your school search includes public colleges in Louisiana, you’ll have a number of great options. The cost to attend a public college in Louisiana typically ranges from $5,000 to $12,000. Out of state students can expect to pay more.

The Louisiana State University system has just shy of 27,000 students and is the largest public school system in the state. With an annual tuition rate of $12,000, LSU provides a full spectrum of both traditional and online degree programs in areas like engineering, education, theater, and landscape architecture.

Find college admissions consultants in Louisiana.

Other reputable public schools in Louisiana include the University of Louisiana, Northwestern State University, and Southern University and A&M College. Southern University is a highly regarded historically Black land-grant university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Students attending public universities in Louisiana can earn both on-campus and online degrees in popular subjects like business management, health services administration, health sciences, and criminal justice.

Louisiana is also noted for an extensive technical college system, where students can pursue a wide range of on-campus and online degree programs. Likewise, the average tuition for a year at one of Louisiana’s seven community colleges is a very reasonable $4,000.

For students looking to merge their faith with their education, Louisiana is also home to eight religious colleges, 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. Based in the culturally rich city of New Orleans, Tulane 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-based financial aid program from the Bar Foundation.

What are Louisiana’s Colleges & Universities?

Louisiana’s Best Overall

online graduate student standing outside an office building

How do we determine Louisiana's best online master's degree programs?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

graduate student sitting in on a meeting

Best Online Master’s Program in Louisiana 2023

Employment Landscape in Louisiana

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the 3.3% unemployment rate in Louisiana is lower than the national unemployment rate of 3.8%.

If you don’t have a specific master’s degree major in mind, we advise you to consider pursuing an online program that aligns with the state’s fastest-growing and key industries. This decision will help you maximize your career prospects in Louisiana, increasing the return on investment (ROI) of your online master’s degree.

According to Louisiana Economic Development, the most thriving industries and the corresponding online master’s programs in Louisiana include:

Advanced Manufacturing

Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Construction Management
Master of Civil Engineering
Master of Industrial Engineering
MS in Transportation

Agribusiness

Master of Environmental Sciences

Entertainment

Executive MS in Hospitality and Tourism Management
MS in Marketing and Communications
Master of Sport Management

Aerospace

Master of Engineering and Technology Management
MS in Engineering Management

Energy

Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Civil Engineering

How to Pick the Right Online College in Louisiana

All of the online colleges on the list are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The SACSCOC is one of the six regional accrediting agencies and is responsible for evaluating any southern university in the United States.

There’s no one-size-fits-all in education. The “best” program or institution will rely on your needs and preferences.

When you’re deciding which Louisiana graduate school to apply to and attend, it’s important to think about these factors:

Cost: Considering your financial status is the #1 factor that should go into your decision-making. You do not want to enroll in an online program far beyond your financial capabilities.

Doing so will cause a significant financial strain in your life, which can lead to dropping out or unimaginable private and federal student loans. If you’re eyeing a school beyond your means, carefully plan your financial aid options.

Transfer Policies: If you have credits from a previous college or want to keep your options open for future transfers, review the institution’s credit transfer policies. It’s highly suggested only to include institutions where your prior credits are recognized. Repeating courses will be a waste of time and money.
Student Services: Several online students overlook student services provided by a university. In the “real world,” services like career coaching or counseling can be exorbitantly expensive and have a significant positive impact on your wellness.

Before you choose an online college, ask about their student services. For instance, if you’re dealing with mental health issues, opt for a school with free or low-cost healthcare services.

Class Size: The ideal class size and student-to-faculty ratio can vary from person to person and program to program. For instance, if you thrive in a close-knit community with personalized teaching, consider small class sizes. On the other hand, if you are more comfortable in a diverse and bustling environment, a large-sized institution will be your best bet.
Flexibility and Scheduling: There are two ways online courses are delivered: asynchronous and synchronous. If you’re already juggling multiple obligations, consider enrolling in programs with asynchronous methods. However, if you thrive in interactive, discussion-based classes, consider synchronous formats.

These are just a few of the several considerations for choosing the best grad school. Check out How to Choose an Online Grad School to find out more about this topic.

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Colleges with Online Master’s Programs

How much does an online master’s in Louisiana cost?

In the United States, a master’s costs about $40,000 for the average grad student. However, the cost of your online master’s in Louisiana will depend on the type of grad school you attend.

In 2020-2021, the average cost for a year of tuition in a public grad school was $12,394. The average cost for a year of tuition in private, nonprofit grad school was $28,445.

An online master’s in Louisiana from one of the public universities in our ranking falls far below the national average. If affordability is a consideration in your educational journey, an online master’s program in this state could be the answer.

An online master’s will usually cost about the same as a traditional master’s degree. Some schools will charge 5-10% more for online courses. This added cost pays for the technology and specialized training needed for online instruction.

But getting a master’s degree online can also help you save money. The costs above don’t include expenses like housing, transportation, or certain campus fees. As an online grad student, you can save a lot of money by avoiding these added expenses.

Many online master’s degree programs are also accelerated. Most master’s degree programs are designed to be completed in two years. But you may be able to earn your online master’s degree in as little as 12-18 months. Earning an accelerated online master’s degree can save you money on tuition.

Can I transfer credits from a previous on-campus degree to an online master’s program in Louisiana?

Transfer policies vary from institution to institution. But in general, online graduate programs accept transfer credits from a bachelor’s degree earned from colleges accredited by colleges and schools commission agencies.

What can I expect from an online college course in Louisiana?

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently.

You’ll be accountable for your time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

Am I eligible for financial assistance as an online student?

Yes, several graduate degrees offer financial aid opportunities to their online learners.

Will employers respect my online degree?

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about adjusting online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st-century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech-savvy.

What are the advantages of online classes?

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or a quiet conference room at work.

In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities and educational experiences that you can complete on your schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials.

And, of course, just as some learners prefer the energy of a live classroom, some learn best when working in their personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

What are the disadvantages of online classes?

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through online programs, some students may find that there is nothing that can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you adjust to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

Students’ Submitted Questions on the Best Online Master’s Programs in Louisiana

Claire asks, “Will an online MBA help place me for internships? What does support look like for networking?”

Dr. James Barham’s answer: If a program requires internships, they will typically help place you, online or otherwise. However, this is definitely something to be in communication with the program about. Most MBA programs will have established relationships with businesses and organizations they can connect students to, so it would be wise to see what these partners are like and if they’re something you would be interested in. You should also be able to access the program’s internships placement record either online or from the registrar’s office. Apart from internships, look into career service centers, networking opportunities, and alumni networks to make sure the program is well connected.

Enrique asks, “I’m someone who needs peer interaction. Are there synchronous options for online degrees?”

Dr. Jed Macosko’s answer: There definitely are. Make sure to contact the school’s admissions office or look into your specific program to see what course delivery options are available to you. One thing to keep in mind is that even with asynchronous programs, there is typically peer interaction. Many programs will assign group projects, have community forums, and hold networking events where you can meet your peers. It really is up to you on how involved you get with your peers.

Alexis asks, “Are there any residency requirements or on-campus components required for graduation?”

Dr. James Barham’s answer: This will vary based on the program and school you go to. There are some programs that truly are fully online and a degree like an MBA should have some of these options available. There are also programs that have on-campus intensives, where students might go to campus for two weeks, for example, each school year and be fully remote for the rest of the program. There are still other programs that will require internships for students, some of which might be remote but there is no guarantee. My advice is to talk with your admissions counselor to fully understand what you are getting into.

Louisiana’s Best Grad Programs in Your Area Interest

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Best Online Master’s Programs in Louisiana 2024

Key Takeaways

Top 10 Online Master's Programs in Louisiana

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Louisiana

What are Louisiana’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Online Master’s Program in Louisiana 2023

Career Outlook for degree at Louisiana State University

Online Master's Degrees

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Career Outlook for degree at University of New Orleans

Online Master's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Loyola University New Orleans

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Career Outlook for degree at Louisiana Tech University

Online Master's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at University of Louisiana at Lafayette

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Career Outlook for degree at Southeastern Louisiana University

Online Master's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at University of Louisiana at Monroe

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Career Outlook for degree at McNeese State University

Online Master's Degrees

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Career Outlook for degree at Nicholls State University

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Career Outlook for degree at Northwestern State University

Online Master's Degrees

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Employment Landscape in Louisiana

How to Pick the Right Online College in Louisiana

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Colleges with Online Master’s Programs

How much does an online master’s in Louisiana cost?

Can I transfer credits from a previous on-campus degree to an online master’s program in Louisiana?

What can I expect from an online college course in Louisiana?

Am I eligible for financial assistance as an online student?

Will employers respect my online degree?

What are the advantages of online classes?

What are the disadvantages of online classes?

Students’ Submitted Questions on the Best Online Master’s Programs in Louisiana

Louisiana’s Best Grad Programs in Your Area Interest