Louisiana Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide

This teacher preparation guide is designed to help those looking for teaching degrees in Louisiana. There are several colleges and universities that offer programs that prepare students to work as a new teacher or advance in their current teaching career. This page contains useful information on teaching schools in Louisiana as well as a list of accredited teacher preparation programs and student reviews. Whether you’re fresh out of college or looking to change careers, use this guide to find a Kentucky teacher preparation program that fits your individual needs and career goals.

School Facts:

• There are 30 colleges and universities with teacher degree programs in Louisiana.¹
• 19 colleges and universities offer a master’s or advanced degree in education.¹
• Highest graduation rate*: Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, 67%.¹
• Highest transfer-out rate*: Southern University at New Orleans, 46%.¹
• Highest net price per year*: Loyola University New Orleans, $24,431.¹
• Lowest net price per year*: University of Louisiana at Lafayette, $5,891.¹
• Annual undergraduate tuition range for teaching degree programs in Louisiana*: $4,943-$45,240.²
• One school in the Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges in 2013: Louisiana State University (90).
• One school ranked in US News National Universities Rankings in 2013 (top 100): Tulane University (51).
• 18 teacher programs are accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP (see below).*

*For 4-year colleges and universities with teacher degree programs.

Profiles of Well-Known Schools

Grambling State University: Grambling State University, located in Grambling, Louisiana is home to the highly regarded Grambling State College of Education. The College consists of three distinct departments including Curriculum and Instruction, Kinesiology, Sport and Leisure Studies, and Educational Leadership. Each department has its own unique educational offerings while all intensely engaging in cutting edge coursework and projects that are geared towards developing the best educators in the nation. What separates Grambling State’s College of Education are the three laboratory schools of Alma J. Brown Elementary, Grambling Middle Magnet School and Grambling High School that offer GSU students with real world and innovative learning experiences that are congruent with GSU COE learning outcomes. Students have ample opportunity to spend plenty of time in the classroom observing and assisting licensed teachers as soon as their sophomore year. Grambling State University College of Education graduates work in every state as well as internationally.

Top-Rated Teacher Preparation Programs

The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) evaluated and rated over 1,000 US college programs that prepare teachers for a professional career in education (Teacher Prep Review 2013 Report). According to the results of the evaluation, only two programs in Louisiana were rated with the “honor roll” rating of 3 stars or higher. For more information on the evaluation process, read more about the NCTQ Teacher Prep Review 2013 Report.

The following teacher preparation programs in Louisiana received the highest ratings by the National Council on Teacher Quality:

Southeastern Louisiana University (Undergraduate Secondary)
Northwestern State University of Louisiana (Undergraduate Elementary)
Grambling State University (Undergraduate Secondary)
Louisiana State University – Alexandria (Undergraduate Secondary)
Louisiana Tech University (Undergraduate Elementary)

Teacher Preparation Programs Accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP

• Grambling State University
• Louisiana College
• Louisiana State University and A&M College
• Louisiana State University at Alexandria
• Louisiana State University in Shreveport
• Louisiana Tech University
• McNeese State University
• Nicholls State University
• Northwestern State University of Louisiana
• Our Lady of Holy Cross College
• Southeastern Louisiana University
• Southern University and A&M College
• Southern University at New Orleans
• Southern University at New Orleans
• Tulane University
• University of Louisiana at Monroe
• University of New Orleans
• Xavier University of Louisiana

Read more about the CAEP, NCATE, and TEAC accrediting bodies.

School Programs for Becoming a Teacher in Louisiana

Request free information from the following schools to learn more about your options for choosing a teacher degree program. We recommend you: Request information from one or more of these schools

Schools with Teaching Degree Programs in Louisiana

Centenary College of Louisiana
2911 Centenary Boulevard
Shreveport, LA 71134-1188
(318) 869-5011

Dillard University
2601 Gentilly Blvd
New Orleans, LA 70122
(504) 816-4640

Grambling State University
403 Main Street
Grambling, LA 71245
(318) 247-3811
www.gram.edu

Louisiana Academy of Beauty
550 E Laurel
Eunice, LA 70535
(337) 457-9480

Louisiana College
1140 College Dr
Pineville, LA 71359
(318) 487-7011

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
Baton Rouge, LA 70803-2750
(225) 578-3202
www.lsu.edu

Student Review: “The LSU Geaux Teach program was a phenomenal experience for me. The program allowed for me to get acquainted with the classroom very early with observation hours being required the first semester of the program, which began junior year. I was able to experience multiple classrooms throughout the three semesters of observations, both high school and middle school classrooms from various student levels. The last semester was spent student teaching. Spending all of this time in the classroom allowed me to be fully aware of the expectations of a teacher and what the job required. I enjoyed the program and the experiences immensely.” -Jayd B., student at Louisiana State University

Student Review: “LSU is in financial trouble because the State of Louisiana’s budget – they have cut many programs and faculty. Employee morale is low at LSU which directly transfers to the students. In addition, while LSU Football is a huge money maker for the school, it seems that school spirit and sports are more important than education. During game days, all of the campus is closed and there is alcohol everywhere, along with litter and trash that takes a week to clean up. There is no use even trying to study on campus during football season. LSU has given me a great opportunity with Career Services, and I have already secured full time employment for after I graduate in a year. Through Career Services I also received a 14 week internship which has offered me my future job.” -Katherine J., student at Louisiana State University

Louisiana State University-Shreveport
One University Place
Shreveport, LA 71115-2399
(318) 797-5000

Louisiana Tech University
305 Wisteria
Ruston, LA 71272
(318) 257-2000
www.latech.edu

Student Review: “The Louisiana Tech alternative certification program for teaching was an enlightening two-year experience for me. The coursework was rigorous and at times fairly difficult, but in hindsight I needed it to prepare for my job as a teacher. I took a number of courses, both in-person and online, and the professors in both cases were always available and willing to assist in any way they could. I felt that what made Louisiana Tech stand out was that the professors in their education department really showed a passion for teaching, and imparted that passion upon their students. If I could improve one thing, it would be the way they handled posting grades; there was always a significant delay of several weeks between class closures and grade postings, and I’d have rather not waited as long. Other than that, however, Tech was great and I’m glad to have earned my master’s degree from it!” -Student at Louisiana Tech University

Louisiana Technical College-Baton Rouge Campus
3250 North Acadian Thruway East
Baton Rouge, LA 70805
(225) 359-9201

Loyola University New Orleans
6363 Saint Charles Ave
New Orleans, LA 70118-6143
(504) 865-2011
www.loyno.edu

Student Review: “My time at Loyola was fantastic for my professional and personal growth. My classes were always small (less than 40 people) and the professors took time to make sure that the information presented was useful for us (for the most part). New Orleans is an incredible city, with all the entertainment that any student could ever need. The student body can be a little bit homogenous (affluent, Catholic), but there is a distinct group of the students with music majors, and they lend a different spirit to the school. I really enjoyed being a part of greek life, though I understand that the administration is currently doing what they can to end that part of campus life. I would say that is a shame, but the real strength of the school (it’s tie to New Orleans) will always be available to students.” -Patrick T., student at Loyola University New Orleans

McNeese State University
4205 Ryan St
Lake Charles, LA 70609-2215
(337) 475-5000
www.mcneese.edu

Nicholls State University
University Station La Hwy 1
Thibodaux, LA 70310
(877) 642-4655
www.nicholls.edu

Student Review: “I transferred to Nicholls State University during my junior year, just as I was beginning my core educational courses. I loved the small classes, excellent professors, and home-town community. I was placed in a sixth grade classroom during my semester of “student teaching” and received outstanding one-on-one assistance from my supervising teacher. I realized how much I enjoyed working with middle school students during that fall semester and accepted a job teaching 6th grade in January. Three years later, I went on to receive a Masters Degree in Education from Nicholls. I have been teaching middle school students for a number of years now, and credit my success in the classroom to the excellent preparation I received from Nicholls State University.”-Student at Nicholls State University

Northwestern State University of Louisiana
College Ave
Natchitoches, LA 71497-0002
(318) 357-6011
www.nsula.edu

Southeastern Louisiana University
548 Western Ave.
Hammond, LA 70402
(985) 549-2000
www.selu.edu

Student Review: “The secondary education program at Southeastern Louisiana University was par for the course compared to what peers from other universities talked about at their respective schools. The teaching program is a companion curriculum to your individual course of study. I was a communications major, and I was getting certified to teach the very basics of computers (think Microsoft Office). The training was great for what it was, and you definitely feel like you’re progressing at the rate you need to progress throughout, but wow – the student teaching phase was absolutely brutal. It feels like you’re more or less thrown to the wolves and expected to take on all of the responsibilities of a teacher with none of the power. I can’t even count on both hands how many times I was directly threatened over the course of the semester with no repercussions for the guilty party. After 4 months of this, I decided I would no longer be pursuing a career in teaching, not because the university necessarily did anything wrong, but because the program didn’t prepare me for what I was ultimately going to face.” -Student at Southeastern Louisiana University

Southern University and A & M College
Southern Branch Post Office
Baton Rouge, LA 70813
(225) 771-4500
www.subr.edu

Southern University at New Orleans
6801 Press Drive
New Orleans, LA 70126
(504) 286-5000

Sowela Technical Community College
3820 J Bennett Johnston Ave
Lake Charles, LA 70616
(337) 491-2698

University of Louisiana Monroe
700 University Avenue
Monroe, LA 71209-0000
(318) 342-1000
www.ulm.edu

University of Louisiana at Lafayette
104 University Circle
Lafayette, LA 70503
(377) 482-1000
www.louisiana.edu

Student Review: “The education program at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette was certainly an extremely unique experience because of the faculty members that I encountered while I was a student there. As you may or may not know, Louisiana is entrenched in the Deep South, where Jim Crow laws were prevalent until halfway through the 20th century. I bring this up, because there were professors there that had lived through this era and brought a unique teaching perspective about desegregation in the school system. There were (I no longer know if they are still there) multiple teachers that afforded me a point of view that I feel I would not be able to attain anywhere else, especially considering the fact that I intended to teach in the South. The instructors were also obviously not too interested in just coming to work and going through the motions. While I was there, I felt that they cared about my progress through higher education, and more than once, I was provided with extra help after normal class hours had ended. It truly seemed as if they cared deeply about my future, and for that, I will never forget my experiences there.” -Student at University of Louisiana at Lafayette

University of New Orleans
2000 Lakeshore Drive
New Orleans, LA 70148
(504) 280-6000

Xavier University of Louisiana
One Drexel Drive
New Orleans, LA 70125-1098
(504) 486-7411
www.xula.edu

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Niche College Search: https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/best-colleges-for-education/