Online colleges in Louisiana are the perfect choice for those busy adults looking to earn a certificate or degree. And, if you’re looking for a bargain on that education, it doesn’t get much better than Louisiana. The average in-state tuition per annum at a four-year college in Louisiana is substantially lower than the national average of $8,070.
Six universities have been ranked as the best in the state for providing an excellent online education. These universities offer a range of programs that are fully online, allowing their students to tailor their education around their busy lives. Some of the schools even offer accelerated 8-week terms that enable their students to obtain an online degree in the shortest amount of time possible.
Four reasons to find an online college in your state:
- Guaranteed in-state tuition saves you money
- Be a part of a university or college you know and love
- Get a degree from a school employers know and trust
- Be close enough to easily visit when desired
Ranking guidelines for the best online colleges in Louisiana:
We selected the online colleges and universities here based on the quality of their programs, types of courses and degrees offered, faculty strengths, as well as school awards, rankings, and reputation, including a strong reputation for online degree programs.
Note: In ranking the best online colleges in Louisiana, giving attention to the variety of degree programs available at the institutions is of utmost importance. For this reason, a more prestigious school in Louisiana may offer one, or a few online degrees, but that may not be enough for that school to rank highly among the best online colleges in the state. In this ranking, we are dedicated to showing who’s leading the way in delivering quality online degree programs in Louisiana.
- See who ranks as the best college and university in Louisiana today.
- The University of Louisiana at Monroe ranks among the 100 Best Online Colleges for 2017.
The Best Online Colleges in Louisiana
1University of Louisiana Monroe
(Monroe, LA)
The University of Louisiana Monroe, founded in 1931 as Ouachita Parish Junior College, is among the largest universities in Louisiana with over 8,000 students in attendance. It granted its first doctoral degree in 1969, elevating it to its present status as a university. The university has five academic departments and offers over 40 majors to choose from, almost half of which are also available online.
The University of Louisiana Monroe offers a variety of associate’s, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees online. Associate’s degrees include general studies. Bachelor’s degrees include criminal justice and radiology. Master’s degree options include exercise science and counseling. Doctoral degree offerings include education as well as marriage and family therapy.
Resources available to online students include technical support, an online job board, online job interview training and an online library with access to a plethora of online databases.
University of Louisiana Monroe is regionally accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS).
2Northwestern State University of Louisiana
(Natchitoches, LA)
Northwestern State University of Louisiana, founded in 1884, was the first university in the state to offer nursing and business degrees. It was also one of the first universities to join NASA’s JOVE program, in which students analyzed data and performed research for the Space Shuttle Colombia’s mission in 1996. The university offers more than 40 degree programs to its estimated 9,000 students.
Northwestern State University of Louisiana offers a number of associate’s, baccalaureate, master’s, doctoral, specialist and certificate programs entirely online. Associate’s degrees include general studies. Bachelor’s degrees include allied health and addiction studies. Master’s degree options include multiple topics in both education and nursing. Doctoral degree offerings include nursing, while specialist degrees include educational technology and educational leadership. Available certifications include TESOL and global security and intelligence.
Resources online students have access to include technical support, academic advising and an online library.
Northwestern State University of Louisiana is regionally accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS).
3Louisiana Tech University
(Ruston, LA)
Renowned for its science and engineering programs, Louisiana Tech University is a space-grant university with over 9,000 students enrolled. NSA and the Department of Homeland Security recognize the university as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education and Research and a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education and Research, respectively.
Louisiana Tech University’s Global Campus offers an array of associate’s, baccalaureate, master and certificate programs online. Online associate’s degrees include general studies. Online bachelor’s degrees include health informatics. Online master’s degrees include engineering and English. Certification options available online include technical writing and information technology.
Online student resources include an online job board, online writing assistance via Skype and an online library with access to a wealth of databases, academic journals and much more.
Louisiana Tech University is regionally accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS).
4University of Louisiana, Lafayette
(Lafayette, LA)
The University of Louisiana, Lafayette is one of the largest universities in Louisiana, boasting more than 17,000 students and over 100 academic programs. The university offered the first master’s degree in computer science in America and even launched Louisiana’s first student-built satellite.
The University of Louisiana, Lafayette offers several baccalaureate, master and certificate programs online. Online bachelor’s degrees include kinesiology and nursing. Online master’s degrees include education and systems technology. Online certifications available include professional writing and business administration.
Online student resources include 24/7 technical support over the phone, an online job board, 24/7 online tutoring for select subjects and courses and an online library with librarian live chat and access to several academic and government databases.
University of Louisiana Lafayette is regionally accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS).
5McNeese State University
(Lake Charles, LA)
Founded in 1939, McNeese State University gets its name from John McNeese, a local teacher. The university offers its 8,000+ students more than 80 programs of study across its 8 academic colleges. The school was the first to offer a forensic chemistry program in all of Louisiana.
McNeese State University offers several online baccalaureate, master and certificate programs. Online bachelor’s degrees include criminal justice, psychology and sociology. Online master’s degrees include health and human performance. Online certifications include topics in nursing, education and psychology.
Resources available to online students include an online job board, technical support over the phone and an online library with librarian live chat and access to JSTOR, Academic Search Complete, Medline and other databases online.
McNeese State University is regionally accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS).
6Nicholls State University
(Thibodaux, LA)
Nicholls State University teaches over 6,000 students and offers more than 80 degree programs. The university is one of the first in America to offer a bachelor’s degree in culinary arts. Its online program, Nicholls Online, began in 2013. It offers its courses in 8-week terms.
Nicholls Online offers several associate, baccalaureate, master and certificate programs. Associate’s degrees include petroleum studies and science in safety technology. Bachelor’s degree options include history and sociology. Master’s degree offerings include education and nursing. Certifications available include business administration.
Resources available to Nicholls State University students include online counseling, technical support and an online library with information delivery services and access to a variety of academic databases online.
Nicholls State University is regionally accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS).