The Bayou State of Louisiana is perhaps one of the most unique states in the United States of America. Located along the Gulf Coast of America, Louisiana is home to a large portion of the nation’s wetlands and has a very diverse culture that prides itself upon a past steeped in the history of various cultures. Before becoming a member of the Union, Louisiana was previously a colony of Spain and France, and those two cultures combined with a strong Native American and African influence created a state with a varied background, and some great food to boot! Recent high school graduates considering a Louisiana college will find a variety of locations to choose from in the wildly diverse Bayou State!

Louisiana is home to a total of 85 colleges and universities that confer various degrees upon graduating students. Although the state has only 4.4 million residents, students will find plenty of colleges to choose from in a variety of locations in the state. The 85 colleges and universities in Louisiana break down as follows:

• 61 Public Institutions: 14 Four Year Institutions and 47 Two Year Institutions
• 24 Private Institutions: 12 Four Year Institutions and 12 Two Year Institutions
• All 14 four year public institutions offer better than a Bachelor’s degree with nine offering up to a Master’s degree and four offering degrees up to the Doctorate level.
• The state’s private institutions have a diverse breakdown with four schools offering degrees below a Bachelor’s, four offering only a Bachelor’s, three offering as high as a Master’s, and only one school offering a Doctorate.

Much like many of the states in the Union, the Bayou State has a wide variety of institutions to offer prospective college students, ranging from community and technical schools to public institutions and religious seminaries. A general breakdown of Louisiana colleges is listed below:

• Public University System: There are three major public university systems in Louisiana with 20 campuses to choose from. There is also one public community and technical college system with nine major campuses and 40 smaller campuses.
• Private Institutions: There is one private research university in the state (located in New Orleans) and seven other private colleges and universities. Of the seven private schools, four are liberal arts colleges.
• Religious Seminaries: Louisiana is also home to three Religious seminary schools. All three schools are located in New Orleans and two are affiliated with the Roman Catholic church while one is affiliated with Southern Baptists.

The vast majority of the 85 Louisiana colleges are located within the major cities of the state, with New Orleans by far housing the most of any city. The five largest cities in the state are listed as follows in order:

• New Orleans (336,644)
• Baton Rouge (229,553)
• Shreveport (200,145)
• Lafayette (110,257)
• Lake Charles (71,757)

At the heart of one of the most unique states in the U.S., New Orleans is far and away the most exciting and unique city in Louisiana and perhaps in the entire U.S. The New Orleans metropolitan area is home to some 1.3 million people and boasts great attractions including the French Quarter, home to the annual Mardi Gras festivities, Garden District, and many other attractions. The city is renowned for its party atmosphere, laid back attitude, and fantastic gourmet dining options. At least 10 major Louisiana college campus locations are located in New Orleans, providing students with a great education and access to all the city’s attractions at the same time. Upon graduation students may find employment in government sectors, defense industries, energy, and more.

Baton Rouge is the state’s second largest city and is the capital. Home to the largest Louisiana college campus location, Baton Rouge is just an hour from New Orleans and has plenty of entertainment and education options for any student. The city is home to one of the largest and busiest ports in the United States and has a strong economy built around research. Graduates may not have to go far to find a career in industrial, petrochemical, and medical research.

Shreveport is the northernmost major city in the state of Louisiana. Located less than an hour from both Texas and Arkansas, Shreveport is an interesting mix of true Creole culture and the big attitude of Texas. Together with its twin city of Bossier City, the Shreveport-Bossier area is the center of the commercial and cultural world of the Ark-La-Tex region. The city is home to at least four major Louisiana colleges and offers ample career choices to graduates. Upon completion of their studies students will find careers awaiting them in the government sector (with nearby Barksdale Air Force Base a major employer in the region), entertainment (the city is home to a growing film industry and booming gambling industry), and energy.

Returning to the southern region of Louisiana, the cities of Lafayette and Lake Charles are home to the center of Louisiana’s Creole and Cajun cultures. Four major college campuses are located in Lafayette, which is home to a large oil and natural gas industry as well as an expanding healthcare sector. Lake Charles, home to two major Louisiana college campuses, is considered the Festival Capital of Louisiana and is home to a growing petrochemical and refining industry as well as bustling tourism and gaming industries.

Regardless of the type of institution an individual is interested in attending; they will find it all awaiting them at one of the many Louisiana colleges. Many of Louisiana’s big cities not only offer great education opportunities, but also provide students with ample night life and recreational opportunities in addition to good employment opportunities upon graduation. If nothing else, the cuisine offered throughout the state is enough to make anyone consider attending school in this Gulf Coast state!