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Value Analysis · Louisiana

Best Value Degrees in Louisiana (2026)

Top 100 of 338 programs in Louisiana · Updated 2026

The best college programs in Louisiana, ranked by overall value. We scored 338 programs across Louisiana schools on earnings, AI resilience, job demand, and tuition ROI. The top programs average $59,551/yr in graduate earnings.

Why ULM's Nursing Program Is #1: A Masterclass in Public University Value

The University of Louisiana at Monroe’s top spot isn’t an accident; it’s the result of a powerful formula. The program delivers graduates into a high-demand nursing field with strong starting salaries ($75,828/yr), but at a rock-bottom public tuition price. This combination yields an incredible 23.0x return on investment, demonstrating how a state university can provide a direct and affordable pipeline into a stable, well-compensated career.

The For-Profit Anomaly: Chamberlain's High-Stakes Path to a Nursing Career

Seeing a for-profit school like Chamberlain University at #12 is a surprise, but it reveals a different kind of value proposition. While its ROI (10.8x) is less than half of public competitors due to high tuition, it delivers the highest post-graduation earnings in the top 20 at $83,188/yr. This suggests a highly-focused program with deep employer connections that offers a fast but expensive path for students who prioritize immediate earning power over long-term value.

Decoding AI Risk: Your Degree Isn't Obsolete, Your Job Description Is

Don't panic about the high "AI Risk" scores; they signal a shift, not an extinction. For nursing majors (43% risk), AI will likely automate tedious paperwork, freeing you for the critical hands-on patient care that can't be outsourced to a machine. For Computer Science majors (61% risk), the threat is more acute at the entry level, as AI automates basic coding. Your value will no longer be in writing code, but in designing the complex systems that AI operates within.

The Louisiana Value Equation: How Public Nursing Programs Won the Top 7 Spots

The top of this list tells a clear story: Louisiana's public universities are the undisputed champions of value. By pairing the state's immense demand for healthcare professionals with their mission to provide affordable education, they've created a perfect storm for student success. Programs at ULM, Northwestern State, and UL Lafayette deliver graduates into high-paying nursing roles for a fraction of the cost of private alternatives, making them the smartest financial bet in the state.

Programs in LA
338
Avg Earnings (Top 100)
$59,551/yr
Avg DW Score
70/100
#1 Program
Nursing
University of Louisiana at Monroe
Top Institutions

Leading the field for Best Degrees in Louisiana

The top four programs by DegreeOutlook Score. Full ranking of 100 programs below.

Rank #1 · DegreeOutlook Score 88
Nursing
University of Louisiana at Monroe · Monroe, LA · Public
$75,8281-yr earnings
23.0xROI multiple
HighAI risk
Nursing
87
Northwestern State University of Louisiana · LA · #2
$74,935/yr · 22.4x ROI
Nursing
87
University of Louisiana at Lafayette · LA · #3
$80,416/yr · 20.0x ROI
Nursing
86
Nicholls State University · LA · #4
$78,065/yr · 22.3x ROI
The Ranking Matrix

Top Programs in Louisiana

Top 100 programs by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full analysis.

Sort by
# Program DW Score Earnings AI Risk ROI
1 Nursing
University of Louisiana at Monroe · Monroe, LA
88
85–88
 $75,828/yr High 23.0x
2 Nursing
Northwestern State University of Louisiana · Natchitoches, LA
87
84–87
 $74,935/yr High 22.4x
3 Nursing
University of Louisiana at Lafayette · Lafayette, LA
87
84–87
 $80,416/yr High 20.0x
4 Nursing
Nicholls State University · Thibodaux, LA
86
83–86
 $78,065/yr High 22.3x
5 Nursing
Southeastern Louisiana University · Hammond, LA
86
83–86
 $73,910/yr High 22.8x
6 Nursing
Southern University and A & M College · Baton Rouge, LA
86
83–86
 $79,871/yr High 19.5x
7 Nursing
McNeese State University · Lake Charles, LA
85
82–85
 $77,239/yr High 20.3x
8 Management Science
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College · Baton Rouge, LA
83
79–84
 $59,150/yr Very High 18.0x
9 Computer Science
University of New Orleans · New Orleans, LA
83
76–84
 $69,204/yr Very High 20.8x
10 Computer Science
University of Louisiana at Lafayette · Lafayette, LA
83
76–85
 $62,452/yr Very High 21.5x
11 Computer Science
Southeastern Louisiana University · Hammond, LA
82
75–83
 $57,961/yr Very High 24.3x
12 Nursing
Chamberlain University-Louisiana · Jefferson, LA
82
79–82
 $83,188/yr High 10.8x
13 Finance
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College · Baton Rouge, LA
81
78–82
 $54,408/yr Very High 17.3x
14 Construction Management
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College · Baton Rouge, LA
81
78–81
 $66,934/yr High 19.1x
15 Computer Science
Louisiana State University-Shreveport · Shreveport, LA
81
74–83
 $60,259/yr Very High 24.9x
16 Nursing
Dillard University · New Orleans, LA
80
77–80
 $86,585/yr High 9.0x
17 Computer Science
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College · Baton Rouge, LA
80
73–81
 $58,697/yr Very High 17.0x
18 Nursing
Louisiana Christian University · Pineville, LA
80
77–80
 $80,263/yr High 9.9x
19 Nursing
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University · Baton Rouge, LA
80
77–80
 $76,607/yr High 11.4x
20 Accounting
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College · Baton Rouge, LA
79
76–81
 $56,910/yr Very High 16.0x
21 Nursing
University of Holy Cross · New Orleans, LA
79
77–79
 $70,806/yr High 11.2x
22 Nursing
Louisiana State University-Alexandria · Alexandria, LA
78
75–78
 $82,919/yr High 28.4x
23 Mechanical Engineering
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College · Baton Rouge, LA
75
72–77
 $75,311/yr Very High 20.8x
24 Electrical Engineering
University of Louisiana at Lafayette · Lafayette, LA
75
71–76
 $76,191/yr Very High 22.4x
25 Chemical Engineering
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College · Baton Rouge, LA
74
72–76
 $74,786/yr High 22.3x
26 Electrical Engineering
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College · Baton Rouge, LA
74
71–76
 $77,238/yr Very High 20.3x
27 International Business
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College · Baton Rouge, LA
74
68–74
 $49,890/yr Very High 16.7x
28 Electrical Engineering
University of New Orleans · New Orleans, LA
74
70–75
 $78,215/yr Very High 22.7x
29 Accounting
University of Louisiana at Monroe · Monroe, LA
74
72–76
 $47,974/yr Very High 17.3x
30 Mechanical Engineering
Southern University and A & M College · Baton Rouge, LA
74
71–76
 $75,001/yr Very High 21.3x
31 Finance
Tulane University of Louisiana · New Orleans, LA
74
72–76
 $77,806/yr Very High 3.2x
32 Mechanical Engineering
Louisiana Tech University · Ruston, LA
73
70–74
 $70,372/yr Very High 20.4x
33 Finance
Louisiana Tech University · Ruston, LA
73
73–74
 $42,018/yr Very High 18.2x
34 Mechanical Engineering
University of New Orleans · New Orleans, LA
73
71–75
 $68,968/yr Very High 23.1x
35 IT Management
Herzing University-New Orleans · Metairie, LA
73
67–75
 $57,229/yr Very High 12.1x
36 Civil Engineering
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College · Baton Rouge, LA
72
70–73
 $67,552/yr High 17.4x
37 Engineering
McNeese State University · Lake Charles, LA
72
70–73
 $75,566/yr High 28.4x
38 Accounting
Southeastern Louisiana University · Hammond, LA
72
69–73
 $47,395/yr Very High 16.7x
39 Chemical Engineering
University of Louisiana at Lafayette · Lafayette, LA
72
70–73
 $63,886/yr High 23.3x
40 Civil Engineering
University of Louisiana at Lafayette · Lafayette, LA
72
70–73
 $69,177/yr High 18.4x
41 Mechanical Engineering
University of Louisiana at Lafayette · Lafayette, LA
72
70–73
 $63,812/yr Very High 20.7x
42 Computer Science
Louisiana Tech University · Ruston, LA
71
65–72
 $68,023/yr Very High 15.8x
43 Finance
Southeastern Louisiana University · Hammond, LA
71
73–72
 $40,704/yr Very High 20.7x
44 Computer Programming
Herzing University-New Orleans · Metairie, LA
71
64–73
 $50,242/yr Very High 14.4x
45 Computer Engineering
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College · Baton Rouge, LA
70
64–72
 $78,915/yr Very High 15.5x
46 Accounting
Louisiana Tech University · Ruston, LA
70
68–71
 $44,846/yr Very High 14.7x
47 Civil Engineering
University of New Orleans · New Orleans, LA
70
69–72
 $65,119/yr High 19.3x
48 Computer Science
University of Louisiana at Monroe · Monroe, LA
70
63–71
 $60,714/yr Very High 15.5x
49 Construction Management
University of Louisiana at Monroe · Monroe, LA
70
68–71
 $71,915/yr High 18.6x
50 Information Sciences
Southeastern Louisiana University · Hammond, LA
69
63–70
 $55,786/yr Very High 15.7x
51 Quality Control & Safety Technology
Southeastern Louisiana University · Hammond, LA
69
66–69
 $55,514/yr High 24.1x
52 Business Administration
Herzing University-New Orleans · Metairie, LA
69
63–70
 $52,469/yr High 11.3x
53 Accounting
Herzing University-New Orleans · Metairie, LA
69
66–71
 $49,538/yr Very High 10.7x
54 Accounting
University of Louisiana at Lafayette · Lafayette, LA
68
66–70
 $46,458/yr Very High 12.9x
55 Business Administration
Tulane University of Louisiana · New Orleans, LA
68
62–68
 $61,089/yr High 3.0x
56 Petroleum Engineering
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College · Baton Rouge, LA
67
65–68
 $56,605/yr High 18.6x
57 Business Administration
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College · Baton Rouge, LA
67
62–68
 $41,232/yr High 13.6x
58 Teacher Education
Louisiana State University-Shreveport · Shreveport, LA
67
70–67
 $48,717/yr High 14.9x
59 Petroleum Engineering
University of Louisiana at Lafayette · Lafayette, LA
67
65–68
 $49,781/yr High 25.5x
60 Criminal Justice
Herzing University-New Orleans · Metairie, LA
67
60–68
 $67,229/yr Moderate 10.9x
61 Nursing
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans · New Orleans, LA
66
63–66
 $76,998/yr High —
62 Accounting
Louisiana State University-Shreveport · Shreveport, LA
66
70–66
 $37,466/yr Very High 22.5x
63 Accounting
McNeese State University · Lake Charles, LA
66
64–68
 $46,774/yr Very High 14.0x
64 Accounting
University of New Orleans · New Orleans, LA
66
67–67
 $41,540/yr Very High 15.3x
65 Allied Health Professions
University of Louisiana at Monroe · Monroe, LA
66
66–66
 $50,006/yr Moderate 16.3x
66 Subject-Area Teaching
Northwestern State University of Louisiana · Natchitoches, LA
66
68–67
 $46,458/yr High 13.3x
67 Nursing
Southern University Law Center · Baton Rouge, LA
66
63–66
 $79,871/yr High —
68 Business Administration
Louisiana State University-Shreveport · Shreveport, LA
65
60–66
 $43,321/yr High 16.9x
69 Finance
McNeese State University · Lake Charles, LA
65
63–66
 $49,216/yr Very High 12.6x
70 Allied Health Professions
Northwestern State University of Louisiana · Natchitoches, LA
65
65–65
 $58,627/yr Moderate 14.9x
71 Engineering Technology
Southeastern Louisiana University · Hammond, LA
65
62–66
 $54,464/yr High 26.3x
72 Information Sciences
University of Louisiana at Lafayette · Lafayette, LA
65
65–66
 $40,583/yr Very High 15.1x
73 Teacher Education
University of New Orleans · New Orleans, LA
64
68–65
 $47,905/yr High 12.1x
74 Dental Services
University of Louisiana at Monroe · Monroe, LA
64
63–64
 $60,188/yr Moderate 16.3x
75 Subject-Area Teaching
Southeastern Louisiana University · Hammond, LA
64
65–65
 $47,684/yr High 12.7x
76 Business Administration
McNeese State University · Lake Charles, LA
63
57–63
 $44,262/yr High 13.6x
77 Teacher Education
Nicholls State University · Thibodaux, LA
63
67–63
 $46,549/yr High 12.7x
78 Teacher Education
Northwestern State University of Louisiana · Natchitoches, LA
63
67–63
 $46,908/yr High 12.0x
79 Computer Science
Tulane University of Louisiana · New Orleans, LA
63
56–64
 $90,828/yr Very High 2.5x
80 Teacher Education
Louisiana State University-Alexandria · Alexandria, LA
62
70–63
 $40,820/yr High 16.9x
81 Landscape Architecture
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College · Baton Rouge, LA
62
61–63
 $60,668/yr High 14.1x
82 Teacher Education
Louisiana Tech University · Ruston, LA
62
67–62
 $45,234/yr High 11.1x
83 Chemical Engineering
Louisiana Tech University · Ruston, LA
62
59–64
 $79,157/yr High 18.5x
84 Accounting
Northwestern State University of Louisiana · Natchitoches, LA
62
59–64
 $48,895/yr Very High 11.2x
85 Allied Health Professions
University of Holy Cross · New Orleans, LA
62
62–62
 $54,241/yr Moderate 9.5x
86 Teacher Education
Southeastern Louisiana University · Hammond, LA
62
67–63
 $46,201/yr High 12.5x
87 Accounting
Southern University and A & M College · Baton Rouge, LA
62
63–64
 $42,524/yr Very High 12.4x
88 Teacher Education
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College · Baton Rouge, LA
61
66–62
 $45,957/yr High 9.6x
89 Electrical Engineering
Louisiana Tech University · Ruston, LA
61
57–62
 $71,994/yr Very High 16.8x
90 Business Administration
Louisiana Tech University · Ruston, LA
61
56–62
 $42,099/yr High 12.0x
91 Management Information Systems
Louisiana Tech University · Ruston, LA
61
54–63
 $47,843/yr Very High 15.9x
92 Teacher Education
McNeese State University · Lake Charles, LA
61
66–61
 $44,225/yr High 12.4x
93 Allied Health Professions
McNeese State University · Lake Charles, LA
61
60–61
 $57,964/yr Moderate 13.3x
94 Business Administration
University of New Orleans · New Orleans, LA
61
56–62
 $38,299/yr High 14.1x
95 Business Administration
Nicholls State University · Thibodaux, LA
61
56–62
 $41,860/yr High 14.0x
96 Industrial Production Technology
Northwestern State University of Louisiana · Natchitoches, LA
61
61–62
 $45,639/yr Moderate 20.2x
97 Environmental Engineering
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College · Baton Rouge, LA
60
58–61
 $59,237/yr Very High 12.8x
98 Mining & Petroleum Technology
Nicholls State University · Thibodaux, LA
60
60–60
 $52,842/yr Moderate 20.9x
99 Accounting
Nicholls State University · Thibodaux, LA
60
60–61
 $42,434/yr Very High 13.1x
100 Industrial Production Technology
Southeastern Louisiana University · Hammond, LA
60
60–61
 $47,453/yr Moderate 19.1x
FAQ

Frequently asked

What is the best college program in Louisiana?

By DegreeOutlook Score, Nursing at University of Louisiana at Monroe ranks #1 in Louisiana with a score of 88/100 and graduate earnings of $75,828/yr.

How many college programs are in Louisiana?

Our database includes 338 programs across Louisiana colleges with reported earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education.

DegreeOutlook Methodology

This ranking includes the top 100 programs at Louisiana colleges and universities, drawn from 338 total programs with earnings data. Programs are ranked by DegreeOutlook Score (0–100), which combines graduate earnings, AI automation resilience, job market demand, and tuition ROI.

Only in-state tuition is used for ROI calculations. Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.