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# Highest Paying Colleges in Louisiana (2026)

Updated October 1, 2026

Highest Paying Colleges in Louisiana lists 26 four-year institutions in Louisiana, ordered by Azimuth's return pillar for Louisiana, highest first. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans ranks 1st on this list, reporting $81,234 in median earnings for its graduates four years after completing. The list includes 16 public schools and 10 private nonprofit schools.

Public institutions make up 62% of the list, with 16 public and 10 private nonprofit schools. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College ranks 81st on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally.

Louisiana State University-Shreveport posts the lowest average net price on the page, at $7,022.

## The ranked list

26 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years after completion | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans · New Orleans, LA | $81,234 | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
|  | Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans reports median earnings of $81,234 for its graduates four years after completing, and ranks 1st on this list. |
| 2 | Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University · Baton Rouge, LA | $63,699 | $18,552 | $17,014 | 98.7% |
|  | Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, a private nonprofit university in Baton Rouge, has an average net price of $18,552 and an admission rate of 99%. |
| 3 | Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport · Shreveport, LA | $76,380 | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
|  | Graduates of Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport earn a median of $76,380 four years after completing, placing the institution 3rd on this page. |
| 4 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College · Baton Rouge, LA | $66,893 | $19,151 | $13,056 | 73.3% |
|  | [Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College](/school/louisiana-state-university-and-agricultural-mechanical-college/majors/) [admits 73% of applicants](/school/louisiana-state-university-and-agricultural-mechanical-college/admissions/) and graduates 69% of its students within six years. |
| 5 | University of Holy Cross · New Orleans, LA | $62,842 | $15,635 | $14,202 | 73.7% |
|  | With a six-year completion rate of 49%, University of Holy Cross reports median earnings of $62,842 for its graduates four years after completing. |
| 6 | Tulane University of Louisiana · New Orleans, LA | $73,816 | $39,949 | $16,126 | 14.0% |
|  | [Tulane University of Louisiana](/school/tulane-university-of-louisiana/majors/) has an [admission rate of 14%](/school/tulane-university-of-louisiana/admissions/) and an average net price of $39,949, alongside median graduate earnings of $73,816. |
| 7 | New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary · New Orleans, LA | $59,131 | $10,829 | $10,829 | Not reported |
|  | New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary posts an average net price of $10,829 and a six-year completion rate of 74%. |
| 8 | Louisiana Tech University · Ruston, LA | $61,520 | $11,864 | $7,676 | 86.4% |
|  | [Louisiana Tech University](/school/louisiana-tech-university/majors/) ranks 8th on this list, with [median earnings of $61,520](/school/louisiana-tech-university/outcomes/) for its graduates four years after completing. |
| 9 | Northwestern State University of Louisiana · Natchitoches, LA | $56,762 | $13,606 | $11,693 | 92.5% |
|  | [Northwestern State University of Louisiana](/school/northwestern-state-university-of-louisiana/majors/) [admits 93% of applicants](/school/northwestern-state-university-of-louisiana/admissions/) and reports an average net price of $13,606. |
| 10 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette · Lafayette, LA | $58,638 | $13,530 | $11,157 | 87.0% |
|  | Graduates of [University of Louisiana at Lafayette](/school/university-of-louisiana-at-lafayette/majors/) earn a [median of $58,638](/school/university-of-louisiana-at-lafayette/outcomes/) four years after completing, and the university admits 87% of applicants. |
| 11 | University of Louisiana at Monroe · Monroe, LA | $53,715 | $13,466 | $11,490 | 84.8% |
|  | [University of Louisiana at Monroe](/school/university-of-louisiana-at-monroe/majors/) has a [six-year completion rate of 54%](/school/university-of-louisiana-at-monroe/outcomes/) and median graduate earnings of $53,715 four years after completing. |
| 12 | Saint Joseph Seminary College · St. Benedict, LA | $44,996 | $45,460 | $42,549 | Not reported |
|  | Saint Joseph Seminary College reports an average net price of $45,460 and a six-year completion rate of 48%. |
| 13 | University of New Orleans · New Orleans, LA | $56,037 | $12,384 | $11,532 | 74.3% |
|  | [University of New Orleans](/school/university-of-new-orleans/majors/) reports [median earnings of $56,037](/school/university-of-new-orleans/outcomes/) for its graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $12,384. |
| 14 | Louisiana Christian University · Pineville, LA | $53,861 | $13,113 | $13,203 | 77.2% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Pineville, Louisiana Christian University ranks 14th on this list and shows a six-year completion rate of 44%. |
| 15 | McNeese State University · Lake Charles, LA | $53,563 | $12,493 | $10,482 | 78.3% |
|  | [McNeese State University](/school/mcneese-state-university/majors/) [admits 78% of applicants](/school/mcneese-state-university/admissions/) and posts median earnings of $53,563 for its graduates four years after completing. |
| 16 | Southern University and A & M College · Baton Rouge, LA | $54,666 | $20,077 | $19,047 | 35.1% |
|  | With an admission rate of 35%, Southern University and A & M College ranks 227th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 17 | Nicholls State University · Thibodaux, LA | $51,767 | $12,947 | $10,714 | 90.8% |
|  | [Nicholls State University](/school/nicholls-state-university/majors/) [graduates 54% of its students within six years](/school/nicholls-state-university/outcomes/) and reports an average net price of $12,947. |
| 18 | Southeastern Louisiana University · Hammond, LA | $50,215 | $13,154 | $10,507 | 99.3% |
|  | [Southeastern Louisiana University](/school/southeastern-louisiana-university/majors/) ranks 18th on this list, with [median earnings of $50,215](/school/southeastern-louisiana-university/outcomes/) for its graduates four years after completing. |
| 19 | Loyola University New Orleans · New Orleans, LA | $52,459 | $23,696 | $20,131 | 93.1% |
|  | A private nonprofit institution in New Orleans, Loyola University New Orleans shows a six-year completion rate of 59% and an average net price of $23,696. |
| 20 | Louisiana State University at Alexandria · Alexandria, LA | $51,983 | $7,065 | $5,008 | 92.1% |
|  | Louisiana State University at Alexandria reports an average net price of $7,065 and median earnings of $51,983 for its graduates four years after completing. |
| 21 | Xavier University of Louisiana · New Orleans, LA | $49,328 | $17,127 | $14,405 | 69.0% |
|  | Ranking 780th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, [Xavier University of Louisiana](/school/xavier-university-of-louisiana/majors/) [admits 69% of applicants](/school/xavier-university-of-louisiana/admissions/). |
| 22 | Louisiana State University-Shreveport · Shreveport, LA | $51,673 | $7,022 | $5,680 | 50.6% |
|  | Louisiana State University-Shreveport reports median earnings of $51,673 for its graduates four years after completing, alongside a six-year completion rate of 38%. |
| 23 | Southern University at New Orleans · New Orleans, LA | $47,240 | $14,810 | $14,771 | 78.9% |
|  | Southern University at New Orleans ranks 23rd on this list and shows an average net price of $14,810. |
| 24 | Dillard University · New Orleans, LA | $48,421 | $22,094 | $19,819 | 41.9% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in New Orleans, Dillard University admits 42% of applicants and reports median earnings of $48,421 for its graduates four years after completing. |
| 25 | Grambling State University · Grambling, LA | $47,043 | $19,809 | $18,666 | 44.9% |
|  | [Grambling State University](/school/grambling-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $47,043](/school/grambling-state-university/outcomes/) for its graduates four years after completing, and its six-year completion rate stands at 36%. |
| 26 | Centenary College of Louisiana · Shreveport, LA | $49,479 | $23,624 | $19,493 | 55.7% |
|  | Centenary College of Louisiana, a private nonprofit institution in Shreveport, admits 56% of applicants and posts an average net price of $23,624. |

## How this list is ordered

Schools are ordered by Azimuth's return pillar for Louisiana, highest first. Earnings figures are medians for federally aided completers of each institution across all fields, measured four years after completing, among those working and not enrolled. The list does not adjust for cost or the characteristics of who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The 16 public and 10 private nonprofit schools on the page span a wide range of outcomes.

## Related rankings

-   [Most Affordable Colleges in Louisiana](/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-in-louisiana/)