List of 27 best universities in Louisiana

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Top 27 universities in Louisiana ranked by EduRank based on research outputs, non-academic prominence, and alumni influence. The rankings are determined by analyzing 9.12M citations received by 299K academic publications made by 27 universities from Louisiana, the popularity of 1,392 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Baton Rouge

#79 in the United States

#90 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

2. Tulane University of Louisiana

New Orleans

#100 in the United States

#114 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $47,427

3. University of New Orleans

New Orleans

#261 in the United States

#292 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1088
Average ACT: 20
Receiving Aid: 90%

4. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans

New Orleans

#269 in the United States

#300 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 2,750
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1931

5. University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Lafayette

#299 in the United States

#330 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 96%

6. Louisiana Tech University

Ruston

#318 in the United States

#354 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1205
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 97%

7. Loyola University New Orleans

New Orleans

#463 in the United States

#511 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Net Price: $26,291
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $38,278

8. Southeastern Louisiana University

Hammond

#519 in the United States

#570 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 99%
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $10,253

9. Southern University and A&M College

Baton Rouge

#560 in the United States

#615 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Average SAT: 905
Average ACT: 17
Receiving Aid: 98%

10. University of Louisiana at Monroe

Monroe

#569 in the United States

#624 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 98%

11. Xavier University of Louisiana

New Orleans

#613 in the United States

#672 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1032
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $17,162

12. Louisiana State University - Shreveport

Shreveport

#754 in the United States

#822 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1098
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 95%

13. McNeese State University

Lake Charles

#835 in the United States

#903 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1069
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 93%

14. Nicholls State University

Thibodaux

#898 in the United States

#968 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1065
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 95%

15. Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Natchitoches

#901 in the United States

#972 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1015
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 97%

16. Grambling State University

Grambling

#983 in the United States

#1055 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1000
Average ACT: 17
Receiving Aid: 95%

17. Centenary College of Louisiana

Shreveport

#1027 in the United States

#1100 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $25,953

18. Dillard University

New Orleans

#1044 in the United States

#1118 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1085
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $21,842

19. Southern University at New Orleans

New Orleans

#1225 in the United States

#1303 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 935
Average ACT: 18
Receiving Aid: 91%

20. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - Shreveport

Shreveport

#1343 in the United States

#1423 in North America

Enrollment: 1,103
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1969

21. Southern University Law Center

Baton Rouge

#1378 in the United States

#1459 in North America

Enrollment: 843
Founded: 1947

22. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

New Orleans

#1446 in the United States

#1531 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $14,164
Receiving Aid: 54%
Average Aid: $7,381

23. Louisiana State University - Alexandria

Alexandria

#1510 in the United States

#1596 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1095
Average ACT: 20
Receiving Aid: 91%

24. Saint Joseph Seminary College

St. Benedict

#1618 in the United States

#1705 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $44,114
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $5,830

25. Louisiana College

Pineville

#1632 in the United States

#1719 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Net Price: $17,011
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $16,794

26. University of Holy Cross

New Orleans

#1656 in the United States

#1743 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Net Price: $14,420
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $12,861

27. Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University

Baton Rouge

#1977 in the United States

#2070 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 99%
Net Price: $16,432
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $11,476

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Mississippi	18	132
Arkansas	24	128
Alabama	33	85
Oklahoma	31	97
Texas	119	26
Tennessee	56	48
Georgia	63	47
Missouri	67	39
Kentucky	38	59
Kansas	32	73
Illinois	100	15
Florida	109	23
South Carolina	37	88
Indiana	55	34
North Carolina	65	24
Iowa	39	49
New Mexico	12	83
Ohio	90	18
Nebraska	23	64
West Virginia	26	108
Virginia	63	40
Colorado	38	45
Wisconsin	47	13
Michigan	62	3
District of Columbia	15	51
Maryland	34	9
South Dakota	15	223
Minnesota	48	14
Pennsylvania	155	12
Delaware	5	90
New Jersey	47	21
Arizona	25	35
Wyoming	1	142
North Dakota	14	180
Utah	20	41
New York	221	4
Connecticut	28	10
Rhode Island	12	50
Massachusetts	88	1
Vermont	17	114
New Hampshire	16	74
Montana	12	153
Nevada	10	131
Idaho	10	146
Maine	19	155
California	249	2
Oregon	31	61
Puerto Rico	52	366
Washington	57	8
US Virgin Islands	1	789
Alaska	6	182
Hawaii	10	357
American Samoa	1	1625
Northern Mariana Islands	1	1521
Guam	2	623

Closest to Louisiana states