Best Universities in Louisiana 2026 for Internationals

Louisiana offers seven strong universities for international students, spanning a huge price range — from roughly $19,000/year at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to about $59,000/year at Tulane, the state's elite private. The state's academic strengths reflect its economy: petroleum and chemical engineering, coastal and environmental science, public health, and a deep music and culinary culture centered on New Orleans. This guide compares the schools by what they genuinely do well, real cost, and international support.

Read our full guide to studying in Louisiana for visa, climate, and living-cost details, plus the wider studying in the USA overview.

Louisiana universities at a glance

University	Type	City	Known for	Approx. intl tuition/yr	Selectivity
Louisiana State University (LSU)	Public flagship	Baton Rouge	Petroleum engineering, coastal science, business	$28,000–$29,000	Moderate (~76% admit)
Tulane University	Private research	New Orleans	Public health, architecture, business	$58,000–$59,000	Highly selective (~11% admit)
University of Louisiana at Lafayette	Public research	Lafayette	Engineering, computer science, nursing	$19,000–$21,000	Moderate (~62% admit)
Louisiana Tech University	Public research	Ruston	Engineering, cyber, business	$24,000–$26,000	Moderate (~65% admit)
University of New Orleans (UNO)	Public research	New Orleans	Naval architecture, hospitality, film	$22,000–$24,000	Open-ish (~85% admit)
Southern University	Public HBCU	Baton Rouge	Engineering, nursing, law	$19,000–$21,000	Open-ish (~80% admit)
Loyola University New Orleans	Private (Jesuit)	New Orleans	Music industry, business, law	$48,000–$50,000	Moderate (~85% admit)

Tuition figures are tuition and required fees only, before scholarships, for 2025–26. Add roughly $14,000–$19,000/year for living costs (New Orleans is the priciest city).

The top picks in detail

Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge)

LSU is the flagship and the research heart of the state, enrolling over 35,000 students. Its petroleum and chemical engineering programs are nationally significant — fed directly by Louisiana's energy industry — and its coastal and environmental science work is among the best in the US for wetlands and Gulf research. The Ourso business college and mass communication school are also strong. International undergraduates can receive automatic merit scholarships. Support: an International Services office, English program, and OPT/CPT advising. Best for engineering, energy, and environmental science.

Tulane University (New Orleans)

Tulane is Louisiana's elite private and the most selective school in the state (~11% admit). Its School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine is one of only a handful in the US and globally respected; architecture, business, and Latin American studies are also standouts. The price is high (~$59,000 tuition), but Tulane gives generous merit and need-based aid to international students, sometimes cutting cost dramatically. Best for public health, architecture, and students aiming at a top-tier private experience.

UL Lafayette and Louisiana Tech

These two are the value-engineering picks. UL Lafayette offers strong engineering, computer science, and nursing at the lowest public tuition in the state (~$19,000–$21,000), in a friendly Cajun-country city. Louisiana Tech in Ruston is known for engineering and a growing cybersecurity focus tied to nearby defense and tech operations. Both are far cheaper than LSU or the New Orleans privates and admit the majority of qualified applicants.

UNO, Southern, and Loyola

The University of New Orleans has a globally unusual naval architecture and marine engineering program plus strong film and hospitality degrees, in the heart of the city. Southern University is the flagship of the nation's only HBCU system, with respected engineering, nursing, and law programs at affordable tuition. Loyola New Orleans is a smaller Jesuit private famous for its music industry studies program — a direct pipeline into the city's music economy.

Scholarships and real cost for international students

Louisiana splits sharply between affordable publics and high-sticker privates that discount heavily. At LSU, international undergraduates are automatically considered for non-resident fee waivers and academic scholarships tied to GPA and test scores, which can shave several thousand dollars a year off the ~$28,000 rate. UL Lafayette, Louisiana Tech, UNO, and Southern start at much lower tuition (~$19,000–$26,000), so even a modest award makes them very affordable.

The privates work differently. Tulane lists ~$59,000 tuition but awards both merit and need-based aid to international students, and a strong applicant can see the net figure drop by $20,000–$30,000. Loyola New Orleans similarly discounts its ~$49,000 sticker with substantial merit scholarships. Never judge Tulane or Loyola by the list price alone — apply, get your aid offer, then compare net cost against LSU.

Graduate students in engineering and the sciences at LSU, UL Lafayette, and Louisiana Tech should pursue assistantships, which commonly waive tuition and pay a $1,600–$2,600/month stipend. Email faculty directly and apply by the early graduate deadline.

Careers and staying after graduation

Louisiana's job market is built on energy, ports, and healthcare. The petrochemical corridor along the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans hires LSU and UL Lafayette petroleum and chemical engineers directly. The Port of New Orleans and the offshore industry recruit UNO marine and naval graduates. New Orleans hospitals and the city's tourism and music economy absorb Tulane, UNO, and Loyola graduates. International students on F-1 visas get 12 months of OPT, and STEM degrees — including most engineering and public-health tracks here — qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, up to three years of US work experience. File OPT through your international office early in your final year.

How to choose the right Louisiana university

• Field strength first. Petroleum/energy → LSU. Public health/architecture → Tulane. Value engineering → UL Lafayette or Louisiana Tech. Music industry → Loyola. Naval/marine → UNO.
• Real cost, not sticker. Public schools start near $19,000–$28,000 tuition; the privates list at $48,000–$59,000 but give heavy aid — always check net cost.
• Selectivity vs. your profile. Tulane is highly competitive; LSU is moderate; the regionals and HBCUs are the most accessible.
• City fit. New Orleans is vibrant but pricier and humid; Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and Ruston are calmer and cheaper.

Estimate your full budget with our cost of study calculator.

Application basics for international students

Louisiana public universities use rolling or priority admissions (fall priority deadlines often winter–spring); Tulane and Loyola have firmer early/regular deadlines. You will generally need: transcripts with a credential evaluation, English proof (TOEFL ~75–80 or IELTS 6.0–6.5 for undergrad; higher at Tulane), a personal statement or essays, and proof of funds for the I-20. Graduate programs add recommendation letters and often GRE scores. After admission, the school issues your I-20 so you can apply for the F-1 visa. See our Louisiana study guide and the USA application guide.

Frequently asked questions

Which Louisiana university is best for engineering?

LSU leads for petroleum and chemical engineering thanks to the state's energy industry. For lower-cost, accessible engineering, UL Lafayette and Louisiana Tech are excellent alternatives at roughly $19,000–$26,000 tuition.

Is Tulane worth the high tuition for international students?

It can be. Tulane lists around $59,000 tuition but offers substantial merit and need-based aid to internationals, and its public health and architecture programs are nationally elite. Apply early and check your net cost after aid before deciding.

Which is the cheapest good university in Louisiana?

UL Lafayette and Southern University start near $19,000–$21,000/year in tuition while still offering solid engineering and nursing programs — the best public value in the state.

What English scores do I need?

Undergraduate programs typically require TOEFL ~75–80 or IELTS 6.0–6.5. Tulane and graduate programs usually want TOEFL 90+ or IELTS 7.0. Conditional admission with English support is available at most public schools.

How expensive is living in Louisiana?

It varies by city. New Orleans is the priciest at about $17,000–$19,000/year for living costs, while Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and Ruston run closer to $14,000–$16,000 — still well below coastal-US levels.