by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which college to attend when you have so many options available. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Top Louisiana Colleges ranking.
Our analysis looked at 30 schools in Louisiana to determine which ones were the best in terms of overall quality. Our ranking is based on over 20 objective factors, including post graduate earnings, freshman retention, and graduation rate. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another.
We know that one set of rankings doesn't always help you determine the best school for you, so we've created the ability to narrow your list by location and field of study as well as alternative rankings that prioritize different factors such as those of importance to veterans and returning adults or those who value diversity and value for your money.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head!
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Tulane University of Louisiana tops this year’s ranking as the best school in Louisiana for overall quality.
The school boasts an average 4-year graduation rate of 77%, which is excellent when compared to the national rate of 33%. During the early years of their career, graduates from Tulane make an average of $63,268 a year.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Louisiana.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University go into careers with an average salary of $61,251 during the early years of their career.
Full Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Report
Out of the 30 schools in Louisiana that were part of this year’s ranking, Delgado Community College landed the #3 spot on the list.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Delgado Community College make an average of $33,305 a year.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend River Parishes Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2025 Best Colleges in Louisiana list.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from River Parishes Community College make an average of $37,848 per year during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend South Louisiana Community College. The school came in at #5 in Louisiana on this year’s overall quality ranking.
The low student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from South Louisiana Community College go into careers with an average salary of $31,432 during the early years of their career.
Louisiana State University - Shreveport landed the #6 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in Louisiana ranking.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Louisiana State University - Shreveport make an average of $47,477 a year.
University of Louisiana at Lafayette came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Louisiana ranking.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UL Lafayette is $47,089 during the early years of their career.
University of Louisiana at Monroe landed the #8 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in Louisiana ranking.
The low student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $46,769 during the early years of their career..
With a ranking of #9, Loyola University New Orleans did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in Louisiana list.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Loyola New Orleans go into careers with an average salary of $52,927 during the early years of their career.
Bossier Parish Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Louisiana ranking.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Bossier Parish Community College make an average of $34,502 per year during the early years of their career.
Louisiana Tech University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Louisiana ranking.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $52,279 during the early years of their career..
McNeese State University did quite well in the 2025 Best Colleges in Louisiana ranking, coming in at #12.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $46,453 during the early years of their career..
With a ranking of #13, Southeastern Louisiana University did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in Louisiana list.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Southeastern make an average of $46,482 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #14, Northwestern State University of Louisiana did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in Louisiana list.
During the early years of their career, graduates from NSU make an average of $47,021 a year.
Baton Rouge Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Louisiana ranking.
During the early years of their career, graduates from BRCC make an average of $34,581 a year.
Nunez Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Louisiana ranking.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Nunez Community College is $35,343 during the early years of their career.
Xavier University of Louisiana landed the #17 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in Louisiana ranking.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $52,184 during the early years of their career..
University of Holy Cross landed the #18 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in Louisiana ranking.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UHC is $49,316 during the early years of their career.
Nicholls State University landed the #19 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in Louisiana ranking.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $45,454 during the early years of their career..
Louisiana State University - Eunice did quite well in the 2025 Best Colleges in Louisiana ranking, coming in at #20.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $36,498 during the early years of their career..
Fletcher Technical Community College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Colleges in Louisiana list.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Fletcher Technical Community College is $32,189 during the early years of their career.
University of New Orleans ranked #22 on this year’s Best Colleges in Louisiana list.
During the early years of their career, graduates from UNO make an average of $47,872 a year.
Louisiana State University - Alexandria ranked #23 on this year’s Best Colleges in Louisiana list.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University - Alexandria go into careers with an average salary of $42,205 during the early years of their career.
Louisiana Delta Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Louisiana ranking.
During the early years of their career, graduates from LDCC make an average of $30,438 a year.
Dillard University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Colleges in Louisiana list.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Dillard University is $39,196 during the early years of their career.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.