Louisiana doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 15 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 15 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Thibodaux came out on top.
The 10 Best College Towns In Louisiana For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where Louisiana's towns land among the best college towns in America.
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| Colleges | Nicholls State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 4,737 (30 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 15,732 |
| Median rent | $960 |
| Graduation rate | 51% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $23,481 |
Thibodaux is home to Nicholls State University. There are 30 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $960 a month, and the average cost to attend is $23,481 a year. It ranks 2nd for crime among the 15 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Louisiana Tech University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 8,312 (37 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 22,284 |
| Median rent | $816 |
| Graduation rate | 58% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $24,280 |
Ruston is home to Louisiana Tech University. There are 37 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $816 a month, and the average cost to attend is $24,280 a year. It ranks 3rd for crime among the 15 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, Southern University and A & M College, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 37,541 (17 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 222,771 |
| Median rent | $1,067 |
| Graduation rate | 48% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $29,845 |
Baton Rouge is home to Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, Southern University and A & M College, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University. There are 17 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,067 a month, and the average cost to attend is $29,845 a year. It ranks 9th for crime among the 15 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Louisiana State University-Shreveport, Centenary College of Louisiana, Remington College-Shreveport Campus |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 3,174 (2 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 180,982 |
| Median rent | $987 |
| Graduation rate | 57% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $39,120 |
Shreveport is home to Louisiana State University-Shreveport, Centenary College of Louisiana, Remington College-Shreveport Campus. There are 2 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $987 a month, and the average cost to attend is $39,120 a year. It ranks 4th for crime among the 15 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | McNeese State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 5,005 (6 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 81,143 |
| Median rent | $1,109 |
| Graduation rate | 52% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $22,810 |
Lake Charles is home to McNeese State University. There are 6 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,109 a month, and the average cost to attend is $22,810 a year. It ranks 1st for crime among the 15 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Northwestern State University of Louisiana |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 5,519 (31 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 17,577 |
| Median rent | $802 |
| Graduation rate | 47% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $25,431 |
Natchitoches is home to Northwestern State University of Louisiana. There are 31 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $802 a month, and the average cost to attend is $25,431 a year. It ranks 5th for crime among the 15 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Louisiana State University at Alexandria |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 5,632 (13 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 44,060 |
| Median rent | $931 |
| Graduation rate | 37% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $15,550 |
Alexandria is home to Louisiana State University at Alexandria. There are 13 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $931 a month, and the average cost to attend is $15,550 a year. It ranks 15th for crime among the 15 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Tulane University of Louisiana, University of New Orleans, Loyola University New Orleans |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 22,161 (6 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 371,853 |
| Median rent | $1,251 |
| Graduation rate | 53% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $40,917 |
New Orleans is home to Tulane University of Louisiana, University of New Orleans, Loyola University New Orleans. There are 6 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,251 a month, and the average cost to attend is $40,917 a year. It ranks 9th for crime among the 15 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Louisiana at Lafayette |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 12,428 (10 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 121,715 |
| Median rent | $1,100 |
| Graduation rate | 58% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $24,884 |
Lafayette is home to University of Louisiana at Lafayette. There are 10 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,100 a month, and the average cost to attend is $24,884 a year. It ranks 13th for crime among the 15 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Louisiana at Monroe |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 5,022 (11 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 47,004 |
| Median rent | $886 |
| Graduation rate | 55% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $24,932 |
Monroe is home to University of Louisiana at Monroe. There are 11 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $886 a month, and the average cost to attend is $24,932 a year. It ranks 14th for crime among the 15 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in Louisiana
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 15 towns in Louisiana that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in Louisiana.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in Louisiana.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In Louisiana
If you're looking for the best college towns in Louisiana, Thibodaux is where to start.
The best college towns in Louisiana are Thibodaux, Ruston, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lake Charles, Natchitoches, Alexandria, New Orleans, Lafayette, and Monroe.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in Louisiana for 2026?
Thibodaux is the best college town in Louisiana for 2026, followed by Ruston and Baton Rouge.
How did you rank the best college towns in Louisiana?
We looked at every town in Louisiana with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in Louisiana?
Pineville ranks last of the 15 college towns we ranked in Louisiana for 2026.
Best College Towns In Louisiana For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thibodaux, LA | 15,732 | 4,737 | $960 |
| 2 | Ruston, LA | 22,284 | 8,312 | $816 |
| 3 | Baton Rouge, LA | 222,771 | 37,541 | $1,067 |
| 4 | Shreveport, LA | 180,982 | 3,174 | $987 |
| 5 | Lake Charles, LA | 81,143 | 5,005 | $1,109 |
| 6 | Natchitoches, LA | 17,577 | 5,519 | $802 |
| 7 | Alexandria, LA | 44,060 | 5,632 | $931 |
| 8 | New Orleans, LA | 371,853 | 22,161 | $1,251 |
| 9 | Lafayette, LA | 121,715 | 12,428 | $1,100 |
| 10 | Monroe, LA | 47,004 | 5,022 | $886 |
| 11 | Hammond, LA | 21,539 | 9,514 | $1,061 |
| 12 | Metairie, LA | 139,729 | 346 | $1,175 |
| 13 | Jefferson, LA | 9,703 | 622 | $1,097 |
| 14 | Grambling, LA | 5,287 | 4,164 | $709 |
| 15 | Pineville, LA | 14,160 | 672 | $910 |
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