5 Best Online Colleges in Louisiana

Louisiana offers diverse cultures and cuisines, along with the musical heritage of jazz and blues. The state is home to some prestigious and big-name universities, including Tulane University, Louisiana State University (LSU), Loyola University New Orleans, and Louisiana Tech University.

Online colleges in Louisiana allow you to earn a degree from leading institutions without having to get to class at a specific time or even leave your home. If you want a world-class degree and the flexibility to fit school around your work and personal life, consider applying to online schools in Louisiana.

When researching online colleges in Louisiana, check that the schools are accredited.

Accreditation is a process that ensures institutions meet certain academic standards.

There are many benefits to attending an accredited school. For example, only students at accredited schools can qualify for federal financial aid. What’s more, many graduate programs only accept degrees and transfer credits from accredited institutions.

The best online colleges in Louisiana will hold accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

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Both on-campus and online degrees in Louisiana come with pros and cons. Ultimately, which option is better for you will depend on your goals, commitments, and budget.

On-campus programs can give you the traditional college experience, with opportunities for networking, in-person tutoring, student support, and campus activities. For degrees that require labs and practicums, on-campus courses may be required.

That said, on-campus programs typically cost more than online degrees. You may also need to pay for on-campus housing and other student fees.

Online degrees, by contrast, give you maximum flexibility. These programs often have the same course requirements as on-campus programs, but you can complete them anywhere.

Many online degrees are asynchronous, allowing you to fit in classes around work and family commitments. Online programs also often cost less than traditional on-campus degrees.

If you want an on-campus experience with greater flexibility, a hybrid degree could give you the best of both worlds. This unique program type blends online courses with on-campus requirements.

The structure varies by college and degree program, so check with your program before you enroll.

The average annual cost of tuition and fees at a public four-year college in Louisiana was $9,642 in 2020-2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Private four-year colleges in Louisiana cost an average of $41,393 per year in tuition and fees.

The cheapest option is a public two-year college, which cost an average of $4,219 in 2020-2021 for in-state students.

Online tuition can vary. At LSU, for example, online tuition and fees cost an average of $8,630 for 30 credits. The University of Louisiana, meanwhile, charges a flat rate of $380 per credit for undergraduate courses — which comes out to $11,400 for 30 credits.

Note that online students will also need laptops and, in some cases, may need to pay distance learner fees.

You can save money on your education by submitting the FAFSA each year.

New Orleans is a diverse city with unique cultural activities, music, and food. New Orleans hosts more than 130 festivals annually and is home to nine colleges, including Loyola University, Tufts University, and the University of New Orleans.

The greater New Orleans area has even more colleges and universities you can choose from.

The most popular degrees at the University of New Orleans include biology, business, liberal arts, and humanities.

Community colleges in Louisiana can help you earn a certificate or associate degree online for less than the cost of a four-year degree.

You can also complete your general education requirements online at a community college and then transfer to a four-year college.

In just two years at community college, you can earn an associate degree online and start your career as a registered nurse, dental hygienist, web developer, database administrator, paralegal, or radiologic technologist.

The most lucrative jobs in Louisiana include nurse anesthetist, podiatrist, and architectural and engineering manager, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

High-paying jobs with promising projected growth in Louisiana include petroleum engineer and industrial production manager.

To become an architectural or engineering manager, you must have at least a bachelor’s degree in engineering or architecture. Nurse anesthetists, meanwhile, need a master’s in nursing.

Sources: BLS, Projections Central

Louisiana has 37 four-year universities, including nonprofit and for-profit institutions, according to NCES. This consists of 21 public four-year universities and 16 private four-year universities. Many of these schools offer online degree programs.

Online degrees take a similar amount of time and require a similar number of credits as traditional degrees.

To earn a bachelor’s degree online at the University of Louisiana, for example, you’d need 120 credits. For a master’s degree, you’d need around 30-39 credits to graduate, depending on your major.

In most cases, you need to live in Louisiana for at least one full year to qualify for in-state tuition. At LSU, for example, you must live in the state for 12 consecutive months, or 365 days, before the first day of the semester in order to be considered an in-state student.

Yes, LSU offers more than 100 online degrees and certificates. You can choose from online bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and professional certificates in fields like business, technology, healthcare, education, criminal justice, engineering, human services, and liberal arts.

According to NCES tuition data, some of the cheapest colleges in Louisiana are Infinity College, Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College, Fletcher Technical Community College, Bossier Parish Community College, River Parishes Community College, and Central Louisiana Technical Community College.

The cheapest way to attend college in Louisiana is at a two-year college, where the average tuition is $4,219 per year. Of four-year colleges in Louisiana, in-state public university tuition is usually more affordable than that for private universities.