Louisiana has around 15 colleges producing BSN graduates, many of them regional public universities with large nursing programmes. This guide ranks them using official federal data and reviews the top five.
Imagine you want to study nursing in Louisiana and stay close to family. You could choose a large public university in Lafayette or Monroe, a smaller Catholic college in New Orleans, or a state university near the coast. These numbers help you compare.
How we ranked these schools
We used the latest official data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard. We included colleges in Louisiana that award a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN), and ranked those producing at least 20 BSN graduates a year by their graduation rate. We also show how much their nursing graduates earn and what tuition costs. Graduation rates are for each college as a whole, not nursing students alone.
Louisiana nursing schools ranked (2026)
| Rank | College | City | Type | Graduation rate | BSN graduates a year | BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year) | In-state tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Louisiana at Monroe | Monroe | Public | 53% | 107 | $82,039 | $9,556 |
| 2 | Nicholls State University | Thibodaux | Public | 53% | 126 | $77,800 | $8,741 |
| 3 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | Lafayette | Public | 52% | 268 | $82,686 | $11,460 |
| 4 | McNeese State University | Lake Charles | Public | 47% | 149 | $79,060 | $9,084 |
| 5 | University of Holy Cross | New Orleans | Private nonprofit | 46% | 28 | $78,003 | $17,206 |
| 6 | Southeastern Louisiana University | Hammond | Public | 46% | 157 | $78,757 | $9,043 |
| 7 | Northwestern State University of Louisiana | Natchitoches | Public | 43% | 323 | $83,575 | $9,370 |
| 8 | Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University | Baton Rouge | Private nonprofit | 43% | 127 | $81,373 | $16,553 |
| 9 | Louisiana Christian University | Pineville | Private nonprofit | 42% | 21 | $86,619 | $22,304 |
| 10 | Louisiana State University at Alexandria | Alexandria | Public | 32% | 91 | $90,721 | $7,050 |
| 11 | Herzing University-New Orleans | Metairie | Private nonprofit | 28% | 30 | $81,319 | $13,820 |
| 12 | Southern University and A & M College | Baton Rouge | Public | 27% | 91 | $77,540 | $9,958 |
Also offering a BSN in Louisiana (not ranked: either a comparable graduation rate isn’t reported, often because they mainly enrol transfer, upper-division or adult students, or they’re for-profit career colleges whose college-wide rates aren’t comparable with universities):
| College | City | Type | Graduation rate | BSN graduates a year | BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year) | In-state tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans | New Orleans | Public | n/a | 238 | $81,112 | n/a |
| Chamberlain University-Louisiana | Jefferson | Private for-profit | n/a | 104 | $89,974 | $20,845 |
| Southern University Law Center | Baton Rouge | Public | n/a | 20 | $77,540 | n/a |
Top Louisiana nursing schools reviewed
1. University of Louisiana at Monroe
The University of Louisiana at Monroe’s Kitty DeGree School of Nursing tops our Louisiana list for graduation rate among universities with sizeable nursing programmes.
- Graduation rate: 53%, number 1 in Louisiana on our list
- Programme size: about 107 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $82,039 one year after graduating
- Cost: $9,556 in-state tuition ($13,467 out of state)
- Acceptance rate: 85%
2. Nicholls State University
Nicholls State University in Thibodaux is a regional public university in south Louisiana with a well-established nursing programme.
- Graduation rate: 53%, number 2 in Louisiana on our list
- Programme size: about 126 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $77,800 one year after graduating
- Cost: $8,741 in-state tuition ($9,834 out of state)
- Acceptance rate: 91%
3. University of Louisiana at Lafayette
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has one of the largest nursing programmes in the state, through its College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
- Graduation rate: 52%, number 3 in Louisiana on our list
- Programme size: about 268 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, one of the largest in the state
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $82,686 one year after graduating
- Cost: $11,460 in-state tuition ($25,188 out of state)
- Acceptance rate: 87%
4. McNeese State University
McNeese State University in Lake Charles offers a public BSN in southwest Louisiana.
- Graduation rate: 47%, number 4 in Louisiana on our list
- Programme size: about 149 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $79,060 one year after graduating
- Cost: $9,084 in-state tuition ($10,584 out of state)
- Acceptance rate: 78%
5. University of Holy Cross
The University of Holy Cross in New Orleans is a small Catholic university with a strong focus on nursing and health sciences.
- Graduation rate: 46%, number 5 in Louisiana on our list
- Programme size: about 28 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, a smaller programme with a more personal feel
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $78,003 one year after graduating
- Cost: $17,206 tuition a year before financial aid
- Acceptance rate: 74%
Southeastern Louisiana University, Northwestern State University and the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans are also major sources of nurses in Louisiana.
Ways to become a registered nurse in Louisiana
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): a four-year degree, the route covered in this guide, preferred by many hospitals and required for most leadership and advanced roles.
- Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN): a two-year programme, often at community colleges, leading to the same NCLEX-RN exam. Many nurses later complete an RN-to-BSN degree, often online and part-time while working.
- Accelerated BSN (ABSN): for people who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another subject, usually 12 to 18 months of intensive study.
- Direct-entry master’s (MSN): offered by some universities for graduates of other fields.
Whichever route you choose, you must graduate from an approved programme and pass the NCLEX-RN exam to be licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing. Louisiana is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate licence lets you practise in other compact states.
Frequently asked questions
How many colleges in Louisiana offer a BSN?
Based on the latest College Scorecard data, 15 colleges in Louisiana produce at least 20 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, together awarding around 1,880 BSN degrees annually. Some smaller programmes are not included.
Which Louisiana nursing school has the highest graduation rate?
University of Louisiana at Monroe has the highest college-wide graduation rate on our list, at 53%.
Which is the largest nursing programme in Louisiana?
Northwestern State University of Louisiana produces the most bachelor’s nursing graduates in the state, about 323 a year.
How much do new BSN graduates earn in Louisiana?
Across the colleges listed, the median first-year earnings of bachelor’s nursing graduates range from $77,540 to $90,721, with a typical (median) figure of about $81,319. Earnings depend on where graduates work, their shift patterns and whether they were already working as nurses.
How much does a public nursing degree cost in Louisiana?
In-state tuition at the public universities on our list ranges from $7,050 to $11,460 a year, before fees, housing and financial aid.
But is a ranking enough to choose a school?
No ranking can tell you everything. Before you apply, also check:
- NCLEX pass rates: the Louisiana State Board of Nursing publishes first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for approved programmes. Look for consistently high rates over several years.
- Accreditation: make sure the BSN is accredited by CCNE or ACEN.
- Getting into the nursing major: many universities admit students as “pre-nursing” first. Ask what share progress into the nursing programme.
- Clinical placements: where students train and how placements are arranged.
- Total cost: use each college’s net price calculator to see your likely cost after financial aid.
Your next step: Shortlist three schools from the table, then check each programme’s NCLEX pass rate on the Louisiana State Board of Nursing website before you apply.
Related: US nursing schools with the highest graduation rates · How to get into nursing school
Sources: US Department of Education College Scorecard (accessed November 2026), Louisiana State Board of Nursing, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Figures change every year; always confirm with the college.
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