Most online colleges now offer affordable tuition prices, targeted scholarships, and flexible course schedules. These benefits help students have time for full-time jobs and other commitments while pursuing a degree. Some accredited online colleges in Louisiana, for example, even provide accelerated course schedules to help students complete their degrees in less time.
Louisiana is home to several prominent public and private colleges. However, even if that’s the case, you’d want to make sure that you only enroll in best value, accredited schools in this state. In this article, we outline the best online colleges in Louisiana and share useful tips to help you in your school search.
Types of Accredited Online Colleges in Louisiana
Accreditation is a form of quality control carried out by accreditation agencies to ensure that education institutions meet certain educational standards. This process gives you and your employers the confidence that you’ve obtained a quality education. Below are the two main types of accreditation that will help you narrow down your school and degree choices.
Regionally Accredited Online Colleges
Regionally accredited online colleges are mostly state-owned or nonprofit educational institutions. They allow students to transfer credits from nationally accredited colleges, as they are reviewed by different agencies and adhere to stringent standards. They are reviewed by major regional accrediting organizations.
Nationally Accredited Online Colleges
The nationally accredited online colleges are mostly career-based, technical, vocational, or profit-focused institutions. As they usually have a specific focus, these institutions are less standardized than regionally accredited schools. Thus, national accreditation agencies only review them every three to five years. These colleges also easily accept academic credit from other nationally and regionally accredited schools.
Choosing Between Virtual Schools in Louisiana: 3 Factors to Consider
It’s important to compare schools before choosing the best online option for you. This part of the process ensures that you have a high-quality learning experience. Below are three critical factors that prospective students consider when picking virtual schools in Louisiana.
Accreditation
It’s critical to confirm that the school and online degree program you’re interested in are duly accredited. Regional or national accreditation is a testament to a school’s level of academic excellence. However, if you’ll want to look for job opportunities in Louisiana, you should lean towards the regionally accredited online schools, as they’re more widely accepted there.
Curriculum Competence
Take time to examine the degree plan, course descriptions, curriculum, and other features of the programs. Ideally, an online degree should provide the same benefits as an on-campus degree from the same college. Although online courses don’t have the same format as on-campus courses, the quality of programs and learning outcomes are still up to par.
Costs
Always compare prices to get the most return on your investment. Not all expensive online schools can provide you with the learning and job opportunities you desire. Similarly, not all public colleges are of poor quality. Some online colleges also provide financial aid to ensure that money won’t get in the way of achieving your desired education.
Best Online Colleges in Louisiana: Overview
| School | City | Standard Online Tuition (Per Credit) | Top Online Programs | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana State University | Baton Rouge | In-state: $303 Out-of-state: $303 |
Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory, Master of Science Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (regional) |
| Louisiana Tech University | Ruston | In-state: $1,013 Out-of-state: $1,013 |
Bachelor of Science in General Studies, Master of Science in Engineering and Technology Management, Masters of Science in Business Administration | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (regional) |
| Loyola University | New Orleans | In-state: $450 Out-of-state: $450 |
Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, Bachelor of Arts in Ministry and Theology, Master of Science in Healthcare Management | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (regional) |
| McNeese State University | Lake Charles | In-state: $1,052 Out-of-state: $1,052 |
Master of Science in Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science in Instructional Technology, Bachelor of Science in Nursing | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (regional) |
| Nicholls State University | Thibodaux | In-state: $275 Out-of-state: $275 |
Associate of Science in Petroleum Services, Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Applied Business | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (regional) |
| Southern University and A&M College | Baton Rouge | In-state: $395 Out-of-state: $395 |
Bachelor of Science in Health Information Technology, Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies, Postgraduate Certificate in Supply Chain Management | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (regional) |
| Southeastern Louisiana University | Hammond | In-state: $375 Out-of-state: $375 |
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership, Master of Science in Child Life | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (regional) |
| The University of New Orleans | New Orleans | In-state: $962 Out-of-state: $962 |
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Master of Science in Engineering Management, Doctoral Degree in Urban Studies | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (regional) |
| Tulane University | New Orleans | In-state: $1,180 Out-of-state: $1,180 |
Master of Science in Social Work, Master of Science in Public Administration, Graduate Certificate in Cyber Technology Fundamentals | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (regional) |
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette | Lafayette | In-state: $480 Out-of-state: $480 |
Master of Science in Systems Technology, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Graduate Certificate in Instructional Coaching | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (regional) |
Top Online Schools in Louisiana: Deep Dive
Deciding which college to pursue your college degree with can be quite a task. To ease the work, we’ve listed the top ten best online colleges in Louisiana, below. These online colleges have good school rankings based on graduation rate, institutional reputation, and student-faculty ratio.
Louisiana State University of Alexandria | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Louisiana State University of Alexandria is the flagship university of Louisiana. This school delivers intensive academics but with low-cost tuition fees. Its LSU Online and Continuing Education platform offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in a range of courses. The university’s vast online library has thousands of articles, journals, and ebooks.
Louisiana Tech University | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
While Louisiana Tech University offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, it also has graduate certificate tracks for professional or technical courses. This school also provides interactive online programs for both undergraduate and graduate students. Its online programs cover general studies, engineering and technology management, health informatics, business administration, and industrial engineering
Loyola University | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Loyola University offers online programs in pastoral studies, health sciences, business administration, religious education, and mass communication. This school accepts undergraduate and graduate students for these online programs. Your preferred program and degree level will determine the educational requirements you’ll need to fulfill for admissions.
McNeese State University | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Based in Lake Charles, McNeese State University provides associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and doctoral degrees either on-campus or online. Some of its academic programs are entirely online, requiring students to study through the course material independently. Others are hybrid programs with campus sessions to round out students’ academic experience.
Nicholls State University | South Association of Colleges and Schools
Founded as a junior college in 1948, Nicholls State University is now a top university in the Louisiana system. It offers online associate degrees, undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, and post-baccalaureate certificates, to students from any location. If they follow an eight-week schedule, online students can acquire an online bachelor’s degree in three years.
Southern University and A&M College | South Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern University and A&M College provides online undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs to distance learners. Through its Southern University Online learning platform, students enjoy virtual access to a high-quality learning experience hosted by world-class experts. The school also offers standard support services, such as career services and remote registration.
Southeastern Louisiana University | South Association of Colleges and Schools
With almost 15,000 students, Southeastern Louisiana University (SLU) is the third-largest public institution in the state. SLU provides three types of distance education programs, including online degrees, hybrid degrees, and fully online certificate programs. Southeastern Louisiana University uses the Moodle learning platform to deliver its online courses.
The University of New Orleans | South Association of Colleges and Schools
The University of New Orleans (UNO) is a public university located at the vibrant lakefront of New Orleans. It has a range of fully online degree programs for undergraduate and graduate students. Some of UNO’s virtual programs allow undergraduate students to supplement their online curriculum by taking a set number of credit hours on campus.
Tulane University | South Association of Colleges and Schools
Tulane University’s distance education program provides various graduate education programs. It has a 10-year track record of delivering excellent learning opportunities for working students looking to advance their professions. Its current online courses are mainly designed for medical or public health, law, professional advancement, social work, and business majors.
University of Louisiana at Lafayette | South Association of Colleges and Schools
University of Louisiana at Lafayette is a top choice for students because of its focus on student-oriented, learning-centered degree plans. It offers online programs in healthcare administration, behavioral science, nursing, and physical health education. Its online education platform, UL Lafayette Online, has a hybrid course catalog with various resources to help students succeed.
Should I Consider Accredited Online Colleges in Louisiana?
Yes, you should consider enrolling in accredited online colleges in Louisiana. Taking accredited online programs here has a long list of perks for its students, such as flexibility, lower tuition costs, and employment placements. On top of all these, Louisiana is the home to top-ranked universities in the country, which means you’ll surely get the quality education you deserve.
Accredited Online Colleges in Louisiana FAQ
Simply visit the school’s website to see its accreditation status. You can also check out the reliable review sites of the accreditation agency or Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) website. With CHEA, you’ll find connections to the regional accreditation institutions, plus information on whether a school is accredited by any of the approved accrediting agencies.
All the options listed above have high positions on the national school rankings. Other notable ones are the Xavier University of Louisiana and the Northwestern State University of Louisiana.
Yes, they do. Like on-campus degrees, online degrees also allow you to explore many career options. Most employers care more about the quality of your degree than the learning format.
Yes, online colleges often have lower tuition fees. An online student usually pays less than an on-campus student. According to Education Data Initiative, online degree programs at public, four-year schools cost an average of $10,776 less than in-person degree programs. They also don’t have to spend as much on other educational expenses, such as transportation, accommodation, and educational materials.
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