21 Best Universities In Louisiana For International Students 2026

Louisiana is surely one of the places you should be considering if you’re looking to study in United States. This location has a lot to offer for international students, including world-class universities and exciting student experiences. With more than 21 universities and colleges in Louisiana, you’ll surely have a wide range of choices.

Out of 21 universities in Louisiana, Tulane University and Louisiana State University are the top-performing schools in Louisiana. This list covers both public and private institutions in Louisiana.

To help you narrow down your school options, we’ve compiled the best universities in Louisiana. We based our rankings on academic reputations from reputable sources and the number of international students. By doing this, you’ll have an efficient way of comparing your target universities and choose your host university in Louisiana.

How do I get admission to the best universities in Louisiana?

Applying to the universities in Louisiana involves submitting requirements and following specific admissions procedures set by your chosen university. The requirements often include a student visa, application packages, and language scores. Check out our guide for international students who want to study in Louisiana to learn more about applying for admission in this country’s universities!

How much are the tuition fees at the best universities in Louisiana?

Tuition fees at Louisiana’s universities can vary depending on which university, degree, and program you will be enrolling in. Generally, tuition fees for the bachelor’s level range from 8,900 USD to 72,000 USD , while tuition fees for the master’s level range from 3,900 USD to 70,400 USD. If you are interested, check out the affordable universities in Louisiana!

As we cover the best universities in Louisiana for international students, feel free to check out the university’s information on Admission, Tuition, Courses, and Language Requirements by looking at the individual university pages.

Top Universities in Louisiana for International Students

Tulane University already has a deep history of providing excellent education. The university began as a small medical college and flourished into becoming a top-ranked institution in Louisiana state. Tulane University takes pride in being the first research university to require community service in its curriculum and vows to continue that legacy in the coming years.

Louisiana State University began as a military academy. Due to this, the university has bagged the nickname The Ole War Skule, signifying its military roots and traditions. At present, LSU now offers a diverse set of courses from different fields and welcomes both domestic and international applicants.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette could be the state’s most prominent and extensive university. It is the most populated among the nine University of Louisiana System campuses. It offers various programs, most of which, primarily undergrad, are accredited by professionals. Numerous recognitions have been bestowed upon ULL, such as the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award (which it has won consecutively).

University of New Orleans (UNO) is a public institution with the mission to provide higher education to students regardless of background. From its founding to the present, its goal of promoting inclusivity hasn’t faded. Moreover, besides offering top-rated programs, UNO is a nationally recognized institution in the US that continues to find ways to improve its education system.

Louisiana Tech University is a research university utilizing selective admissions for its programs. The university prioritizes the education and development of its students by offering quality education, and research while fostering public service and economic development. Located in Ruston, the university is surrounded by leisure places such as parks, lakes, and biking trails.

Loyola University New Orleans is a Roman Catholic academic institution founded by the Jesuits. Around 140+ programs are available for undergrad, grad, and professional students. Several of those programs are available on an online setup. The Times Higher Education ranking places Loyola at 401st in the US, while the US News puts it at 202nd.

Southeastern Louisiana University is one of the leading academic institutions for higher education in the south. It has been given several recognitions, especially for its programs in law, criminology, and education. Students at this university receive hands-on education because of its 18:1 student-to-faculty ratio. 

The University of Louisiana at Monroe opened in 1931 as Quachita Parish Junior College but was renamed to its present name ULM in 1999. ULM also offers many nationally accredited academic programs and shows high faculty salaries. To this date, the university remains a world-ranked university.

The Xavier University of Louisiana has a rich history of being the only historically black and Catholic academic institution and the only university founded by a saint. XULA was established by Katherine Drexel and the Blessed Sacrament sisters to mold future leaders for a more humane and just world. They do so by providing excellent education and diverse opportunities. The university’s placements among US university rankings: 383rd (Times Higher Education) and 301 (QS Top Universities) are a testament to their teaching.

Southern University and A&M College is part of the Southern University System that provides top-quality higher education in the state of Louisiana. Although initially established to educate the black community in the region, it has since expanded and currently admits a diverse group of students regardless of ethnicity. Today, the university offers a broad spectrum of academic programs in the fields of nursing, engineering, and business, with several of its programs being top-rated and nationally recognized.

The Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a higher education institute with over six campuses all over the United States. Founded in 1884 and located in the city of Natchitoches in the state of Louisiana, the university houses 11,447 enrolled students as of Fall 2022. With a growing student population with a longstanding history of exemplary education, Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a fine choice among the long list of competent universities in the United States for both local and international students.

Situated in Lake Charles, Louisiana, McNeese State University is a public higher education school that aims to transform the lives of students by providing first-rate education. It offers academic programs in traditional and modern learning approaches that can either be taught on-campus or online. Some of the areas of study currently offered at the university are social sciences, humanities, engineering, and natural sciences.

Louisiana State University Shreveport’s mission is to educate a diverse population of graduate and undergraduate students by promoting critical thought. It innovates and fosters opportunities to enhance the application of knowledge and intellectual discovery through faculty and student research and creative endeavors. The university is committed to providing academic excellence and cultural enrichment.

Grambling State University is a black university in northern Louisiana, one of the nine universities in the University of Louisiana system. It offers more than 40 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certification programs through four universities, including two specialized schools and graduate schools. Grambling State University is committed to creating an environment in which students can grow and learn in a calm and positive environment by combining the major academic strengths of the university with those of a small university.

Nicholls State University is a public higher educational institution in Louisiana, United States, and was founded in 1948. It offers 60 degree programs to its 6760 students and houses over 85 student organizations as well as 700 student fraternities and sororities. Aside from the social and academic opportunities, the athletics department of the school is also highly competent, with 17 Division I athletic teams constantly trained and maintained. The school has several resources at hand to service its students, such as meal plans, bookstores, parking regulations, housing, counseling, and health services.

The Centenary College of Louisiana is the oldest accredited liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The university’s bachelor’s program includes English, French, Greek, Latin, logic, rhetoric, ancient and modern history, mathematics, natural, moral, and political philosophy courses. The Centenary College of Louisiana campus is about 65 acres, and the central Dr. Ed Leuck Academic Arboretum has more than 300 species of plants.

Dillard University is a historic black private university in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dillard University offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Nursing degrees in more than 35 majors and holds dual degree programs in several fields. The university is famous for its undergraduate research programs, especially in education and nursing, and among them, professional training programs are well-run systematically.

Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, or LSU Health Shreveport, is a higher education institution founded in 1965 and is currently located in Shreveport, Louisiana. Specializing in the field of health and medicine, undergraduate and graduate programs offered are divided into three schools which are the School of Medicine, School of Allied Health Professions, and School of Graduate Studies.

Louisiana State University of Alexandria (LSUA) is a public college in Alexandria, Louisiana. It began as a two-year college in 1959, with Nursing as its first program. The university exclusively offers undergraduate programs in a variety of fields such as liberal arts and science. It also offers certificates and associate degrees in Nursing and Radiologic Technology.

The Southern University at New Orleans, or SUNO, is a 17-acre large university in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 1956, the school is considered as a Historically black college or university (HCBU) in the United States. Despite this, SUNO hosts more than just African-Americans but also students from all over the globe. The university has provided undergraduate and graduate level programs and top-notch student services for arts, sports, and recreation.

Louisiana Christian University, previously known as Louisiana College, is a private school founded in 1906 and located in Pineville, Louisiana. The school has Christian-centered values, beliefs, and traditions due to its affiliation with the Grand Cane Association of Baptist Churches. Its mission is to foster learning, lead, and serve students. Financial aid is also available to students such as the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy and C. S. Lewis Honors Program.