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Private colleges in Louisiana consist of both large research schools to small universities with a specialized focus. Likewise, the schools also vary in geographic location and population density. Metro and suburban private schools in the state of Louisiana span New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Kenner, and Pineville. Top ranked private universities in Louisiana include Tulane University, Loyola University, Dillard University, Our Lady of Holy Cross College, and Remington College. Private universities are higher education institutions that do not accept public funds. Schools are able to sustain themselves based on alumni donations, corporate donations, grants, internal operations, and tuition. The private school system in Louisiana is known for smaller class sized, lower student to teacher ratios, and generous financial aid packages for qualifying students. Financial aid awards can help offset or mitigate a higher published tuition when all numbers are netted out. This fact can help move schools that seem out of reach closer to reality for students on the cusp of making a private school a reality.
2025 Best Private Colleges in Louisiana
Tulane University of Louisiana, a nonprofit private institution, offers a large number of educational opportunities, allowing students to choose which major is right for them. Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, it offers an urban setting for students to study in. Tulane University of Louisiana has a yearly student enrollment of around twelve thousand.
A list of some of the more popular programs offered are:
- Legal Professions And Studies
- Business And Marketing Studies
- Health And Clinical Professions
- Public Administration And Social Services
To be considered for admissions, students may be asked to complete an application, write a personal statement, and submit school records, which are then reviewed by admissions staff. Most common scores among applicants admitted to this school are within the range of 29 - 32 for the ACT exam, or 1880 - 2130 for the SAT exam. Only 25 percent of applicants are admitted to the school due to the high volume of applicants for the limited enrollment spots. More information regarding admissions can be found here.
The cost of undergraduate tuition is approximately $48,000 annually. Tuition prices may change for any number of reasons, and as such students should visit the school's price of attendance calculator to understand their personalized cost estimate of attendance. Student housing is available for students, which costs around $6,700 for the year. This school may provide financial aid for students that are eligible in the form of grants and loans.
Athletic programs are available at Tulane University of Louisiana through the NCAA, allowing students to participate in intercollegiate athletics. Athletic programs offered include:
- Baseball (NCAA Division I-A)
- Basketball (NCAA Division I-A)
- Track & Field (NCAA Division I-A)
Students can take a look at the school's http://www.tulane.edu to see additional information.
Enrollment
12,646
Student to Faculty Ratio
8:1
Loyola University - New Orleans is a nonprofit private institution located in New Orleans, LA and provides a large number of program options for students. The school maintains a Roman Catholic affiliation, which is evident in the role it plays in program curriculums and daily life at the school. Enrollment at Loyola University - New Orleans exceeds four thousand yearly. Areas of study available at Loyola University - New Orleans include but are not limited to:
- Legal Professions And Studies
- Health And Clinical Professions
- Visual And Performing Arts
- Communications And Journalism
- Baseball (NAIA Division I)
- Basketball (NAIA Division I)
- Track & Field (NAIA Division I)
- Tennis (NAIA Division I)
- Volleyball (NAIA Division I)
Enrollment
4,261
Student to Faculty Ratio
12:1
Centenary College of Louisiana is a nonprofit private university that has a large selection of majors and degree programs available for students to choose from. The school is located in Shreveport, LA, in a predominantly urban area. The school maintains a United Methodist affiliation, which is evident in the role it plays in program curriculums and daily life at the school. Centenary College of Louisiana, with only about 900 students enrolled, offers smaller class sizes and hands on instruction as part of its commitment to students. Areas of study available at Centenary College of Louisiana include but are not limited to:
- Biological And Biomedical Sciences
- Recreation And Fitness Studies
- Business And Marketing Studies
- Psychology
- English Language And Literature
- Baseball (NCAA Division I-AAA)
- Basketball (NCAA Division I-AAA)
- Golf (NCAA Division I-AAA)
- Gymnastics (NCAA Division I-AAA)
Enrollment
585
Student to Faculty Ratio
9:1
Xavier University of Louisiana is a nonprofit private historically black institution located in New Orleans, LA. A majority of historically black colleges and universities (also known as HBCUs) were established after the civil war to provide newly freed African Americans with educational opportunities. The Roman Catholic affiliation of this school is an important part of the history, education and mission that defines the school. Approximately 3,400 students are enrolled per year at XU. Students may choose from a few areas of study, including:
- Health And Clinical Professions
- Biological And Biomedical Sciences
- Physical Sciences
- Psychology
- Business And Marketing Studies
- Basketball (NAIA Division I)
- Track & Field (NAIA Division I)
- Tennis (NAIA Division I)
- Volleyball (NAIA Division I)
Enrollment
3,231
Student to Faculty Ratio
15:1
Dillard University is a nonprofit private historically black institution located in New Orleans, LA. Most historically black colleges and universities (also known as HBCUs) were founded after the civil war to provide newly freed African Americans with educational opportunities. The school's United Methodist affiliation is one of its defining characteristics and plays an important role within the school's mission. Approximately a thousand students are enrolled yearly at Dillard University.
Areas of study available at Dillard University include:
- Ethnic Cultural And Gender Studies
- Social Sciences
- Biological And Biomedical Sciences
- Business And Marketing Studies
- Psychology
To be considered for admissions, applicants may be asked to fill out an application, write a personal statement, and submit school records, which are then reviewed by the admissions office. Most common test scores among students accepted to this school are between 16 - 20 for the ACT exam, or 1090 - 1410 on the SAT. 49% of those students that apply are admitted to Dillard University, of which 13% choose to attend.
The cost of tuition is approximately $16,000, but may change per year. Students are encouraged to use the school's tuition calculator to better estimate their cost of attending this school. The price of on-campus housing is about $7,000 annually. Students at this school may qualify for aid which is generally scholarships, grants, and loans.
The mascot for Dillard University is the "Blue Devils", and they participate in intercollegiate athletics through oversight by the NAIA. Athletic programs available may include the following:
- Basketball (NAIA Division I)
- Track & Field (NAIA Division I)
- Volleyball (NAIA Division I)
Students can take a look at the school's http://www.dillard.edu to see additional information.
Enrollment
1,309
Student to Faculty Ratio
14:1
University of Holy Cross was formerly known as Our Lady of Holy Cross College. The school is a nonprofit private institution, offers an assortment of degree programs, allowing students to choose which major is right for them. Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, the school resides in an urban setting for students to study in. The school's Roman Catholic affiliation is one of its defining characteristics and plays an important role within the school's vision. Approximately 1,300 students enroll at Our Lady of Holy Cross College per year. Areas of study available at Our Lady of Holy Cross College include but are not limited to:
- Health And Clinical Professions
- Education
- Liberal Arts And Sciences
- Business And Marketing Studies
- Psychology
Enrollment
1,255
Student to Faculty Ratio
10:1
Louisiana College is a nonprofit private institution that has a fair number of programs available for students to choose from. The school is located in Pineville, Louisiana, in a predominantly suburban area. The Southern Baptist affiliation of this school is an important part of the history, education and vision that defines the school. Nearly a thousand students enroll at Louisiana College annually. A list of some of the more popular programs offered are:
- Education
- Health And Clinical Professions
- Biological And Biomedical Sciences
- Psychology
- Business And Marketing Studies
- Public Administration And Social Services
- Baseball (NCAA Division III)
- Basketball (NCAA Division III)
- Football (NCAA Division III)
Enrollment
1,245
Student to Faculty Ratio
11:1
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University was previously known as Our Lady of the Lake College. Our Lady University is a nonprofit private institution that offers a large number of degree programs in three schools. The schools within FMOLU include the School of Nursing, School of Health Professionals, and School of Arts & Sciences. Located in Baton Rouge, LA, it resides in an urban setting for students to study within. The Roman Catholic affiliation of this school is an important part of the history, education, and vision that has defined Our Lady University since 1923. Approximately 1,900 students are enrolled per year at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University. Areas of study available at Our Lady University include undergraduate and graduate level degree programs such as:
- Nursing
- Physical Therapy Assistant
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
- Physician Assistant
- Radiology Technician
- Nutritional Sciences
- Biology
- Respiratory Therapy
- Nurse Anesthetist
Enrollment
1,368
Student to Faculty Ratio
8:1
Enrollment
1,729
Student to Faculty Ratio
21:1
Degree Programs at Louisiana Private Colleges

Degree tracks found at private colleges in Louisiana will span from research-heavy fields such asbiotechnology,immunology,oncology, andphysiologyto more traditional fields likelaw,political science,business administration, andphotography. Similarly, you will have myriad options to consider in terms of modality (in-class, online, hybrid) along with degree levels (undergraduate, graduate, professional) at private colleges in the state of Louisiana.
List of Large 4-Year Private Universities in Louisiana
There are 3 large private universities in our database for Louisiana. Follow the links below to get more details about each school.
Large Universities with Research Facilities or Faculty
The universities listed below offer many diverse academic programs, have a large student body, and usually have research facilities or faculty involved with research. These schools very often have graduate and professional programs as well.

Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, LA
Visit the website for Xavier University of Louisiana at xula.edu
Program Details
- 10,000 to 19,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Estimated tuition & fees: $26,000 per year
Large Primarily Academic Universities
Each university listed below offers a diverse set of degrees and programs, unlike the research universities listed above, these schools contain little to no research activity on campus and are primarily academic.
- Florida Gulf Coast University in Kenner, LA
- McNeese State University (McNeese) in New Orleans, LA
Small to Medium Sized 4-Year Universities
The 4-year schools listed below have a small to medium sized student body and may offer a wide range of associate and bachelor's degrees. Get more information about each school by clicking the links below.
- Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University in New Orleans, LA
4-Year Colleges with a Special Focus on an Area of Study
The schools below are grouped by their special area of focus. To learn about admissions, tuition & fees, programs offered, and more click on the school names below.
Theological Seminaries, Bible Colleges, and Other Faith-Related Institutions
- Nicholls State University (NOBTS) in New Orleans, LA
Notes: Tuition & fee amounts are for both Louisiana in-state residents and out of state students, unless noted otherwise. The tuition information displayed is an estimate, which we calculated based on historical data and should be solely used for informational purposes only. Please contact the respective school for information about the current school year.
Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.