2026 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Louisiana

[Social Sciences](/majors/social-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong social sciences education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for social sciences students.
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2026 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Louisiana
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in social sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Social Sciences Schools
University Of New Orleans tops our 2026 list of the best value social sciences schools in Louisiana. Set in the city of New Orleans, University Of New Orleans is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,172, compared with $14,008 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,048 to complete the social sciences program here. Social Sciences graduates of University Of New Orleans earn a median of $42,720 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Louisiana Monroe one of the best values for social sciences. Located in the city of Monroe, University Of Louisiana Monroe is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,190, with out-of-state students paying around $21,290. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,467 in student loans. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from University Of Louisiana Monroe generally make around $23,450. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mcneese State University earned it the #3 place for social sciences. Mcneese State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Lake Charles. In-state tuition and fees average $8,489, compared with $9,989 for out-of-state students. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $35,375 in student loans. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Mcneese State University generally make around $30,183. That is a strong return on a $35,375 median debt. Mcneese State University admits about 78% of applicants.
Nicholls State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value social sciences schools. Set in the city of Thibodaux, Nicholls State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,149 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,242. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $26,074. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $30,583. Set against $26,074 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Nicholls State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in social sciences will find it at Louisiana Tech University, which ranked #5. Louisiana Tech University is a large public school located in the town of Ruston. In-state tuition and fees average $10,125, while out-of-state students pay about $16,866. Students borrow a median of $25,015 to complete the social sciences program here. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Louisiana Tech University generally make around $34,640. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Louisiana Tech University admits about 86% of applicants.
Southeastern Louisiana University landed the #6 spot for social sciences value this year. Located in the city of Hammond, Southeastern Louisiana University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,373, while out-of-state students pay about $20,851. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $26,646 in student loans. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $26,992. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette earned the #7 position for value in social sciences this year. University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a large public school located in the city of Lafayette. Students from in state pay about $10,418 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,146. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $22,916. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $28,062. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Xavier University Of Louisiana came in at #8 for value in social sciences this year. Xavier University Of Louisiana is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Orleans. Students from in state pay about $28,979 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $26,777. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Xavier University Of Louisiana generally make around $46,854. That is a strong return on a $26,777 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Dillard University placed #9 among the best values for social sciences. Located in the city of New Orleans, Dillard University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,734. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $33,177. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Dillard University generally make around $37,305. That is a strong return on a $33,177 median debt. Dillard University admits about 42% of applicants.
Grambling State University earned the #10 position for value in social sciences this year. Located in the town of Grambling, Grambling State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,683, with out-of-state students paying around $16,706. Students borrow a median of $40,941 to complete the social sciences program here. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Grambling State University generally make around $34,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College came in at #11 for value in social sciences this year. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,954, with out-of-state students paying around $28,631. Students borrow a median of $18,950 to complete the social sciences program here. Social Sciences graduates of Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earn a median of $28,502 early in their careers. Set against $18,950 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College admits about 73% of applicants.
Southern University And A And M College landed the #12 spot for social sciences value this year. Southern University And A And M College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,922, while out-of-state students pay about $17,272. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $29,695 in student loans. Social Sciences graduates of Southern University And A And M College earn a median of $45,304 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,695 median debt. Southern University And A And M College admits about 35% of applicants.
Loyola University New Orleans landed the #13 spot for social sciences value this year. Located in the city of New Orleans, Loyola University New Orleans is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $49,440. Students borrow a median of $26,475 to complete the social sciences program here. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $27,022. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Tulane University Of Louisiana earned the #14 position for value in social sciences this year. Set in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,678. Students borrow a median of $21,884 to complete the social sciences program here. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $40,650. Set against $21,884 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Tulane University Of Louisiana admits about 14% of applicants.
More Social Sciences Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.