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Last Updated: October 03, 2021

Louisiana - The Pelican State

Louisiana is located in the Southeastern part of the US, bordered by Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Being the 24th most populous state in the US, the Pelican State has a population of about 4.67 million. New Orleans, the largest city in Louisiana, used to be the state capital in 1722. In 1849, Baton Rouge became the capital of Louisiana. Most states in the US are divided into Counties, but Louisiana is an exception here. It is subdivided into different parishes. Louisiana is a state that is often called the melting pot of various cultures because of the numerous ethnic groups that coexist in this state. For instance, the Cajuns or the Acadians are an ethnic group that is largely found in the Pelican State. In 1683, to honor the King of France, Louis XIV, Robert Sieur de La Salle (French explorer) named the region “La Louisianne”, which is how the state got its name.

Major Cities in Louisiana

New Orleans

New Orleans is the largest city in Louisiana with an estimated population of 391,000. It was founded in the year 1718 and was named after Philippe II, Duc d'Orleans, the Regent of France. It is said that Jazz music has its roots in the city of New Orleans and is often known as the “birthplace of jazz”. The city is also popular for its diversity and the Mardi Gras festival. It is home to some of the most popular educational institutions like the Tulane University of Louisiana, the University of New Orleans, Loyola University New Orleans, and the Xavier University of Louisiana.

Baton Rouge

This is the second-largest city of Louisiana and is the capital city of the state. The estimated population of the city is approximately 225,000. The city was founded in 1699 and was established as a city in 1817. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College are situated in this city. Audio engineering, Education, Energy, and Manufacturing are the major industries in this city. Popular attractions include the USS KIDD Veterans Museum, Louisiana's Old State Capitol, Capitol Park Museum, Blue Bayou Water Park, BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo, and so on.

Shreveport

Founded in 1836 by the Shreve Town Company, the city is a major commercial and cultural hub. Shreveport is the third biggest city in the state of Louisiana with a population of over 192,000. The city was named after Captain Henry Miller Shreve. The Louisiana State University-Shreveport is situated in this city. It is a major industrial hub with major sectors like petroleum, natural gas, and iron and steel production. Popular sites in the city are the Sci-Port Discovery Center, Shreveport Aquarium, Splash Kingdom Waterpark Shreveport, Louisiana State Exhibit Museum, Shreveport Municipal Auditorium, American Rose Center, etc.

Metairie

With an estimated population of over 142,000, Metairie is the fourth major city of Louisiana. It was founded in 1721 and is situated in Jefferson Parish. The major economic sectors in this city are Health Care, Mining, Construction, and Finance. The Royal Street, Lafreniere Park, New Orleans Nightmare Haunted, Huey P Long Bridge, TPC Louisiana, Sky Zone Trampoline Park, Bonnabel Boat Launch, etc., are some of the top sites in this city.

Economy/Job Market

Tuition Fee and Living Cost in Louisiana

The cost of living in Louisiana is lower than the national average. Housing costs are the cheapest, followed by utilities, groceries, and healthcare. The median household income is about $50,000 which is lower than the national average of around $69,000 to $70,000. The most affordable cities in Louisiana are Oakdale, Franklin, Abbeville, Jackson, and Patterson. The most expensive cities in the state are New Orleans, Natchitoches, Ruston, Thibodaux, and Grambling. The cost of higher education can be expensive if one prefers to study in a private institute in Louisiana as the tuition fee is higher than the national average. The average cost in a private institution is around $39,000, and the tuition fee in one of the top private universities in the state, Tulane University of Louisiana, is around $60,000.

List of Few Major Universities/Colleges

The top universities/colleges in the state of Louisiana are:

Scholarships/Financial Aid for Students

There are many scholarship programs and grants available in Louisiana, and students must submit the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before applying for financial aid.

Tourism

Louisiana is popularly known as a state not just rich in cultural diversity but also in terms of food, music, art, and architecture. A popular aspect of the state is the Mardi Gras festival that symbolizes the spirit of the Pelican State. It is celebrated from mid-February to early March which is also the best time to visit the state. Louisiana is famous when it comes to cuisines, and the most popular dishes here are Shrimp Étouffe, Jambalaya, Beignet, Po’boy, Muffuletta, Maque Choux, and a lot more. However, the most iconic dish out here is Gumbo, and its mixture of various ingredients is often compared to the coexistence of various ethnic groups in the state. Popular tourist destinations are the French Quarter, Vermilionville Historic Village, National WWII Museum, Melrose Plantation, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Old State Capitol, Rosedown Plantation and Gardens, Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge, and so on.

Universities & Colleges in Louisiana

University (city) Total StudentsUG (in) / UG (out)G (in) / G (out)
Tulane University of Louisiana (New Orleans) 14768$59590 / $59590$59590 / $59590
Louisiana Tech University (Ruston) 13345$10454 / $17772$10454 / $17772
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (Baton Rouge) 33758$12545 / $30318$14636 / $31363
University of Louisiana at Lafayette (Lafayette) 19221$11499 / $26136$11499 / $25090
University of New Orleans (New Orleans) 10089$10454 / $14636$10454 / $14636
Nicholls State University (Thibodaux) 7520$8363 / $9409$9409 / $10454
Louisiana State University-Shreveport (Shreveport) 9963$8363 / $21954$8363 / $20908
Loyola University New Orleans (New Orleans) 4913$42863 / $42863$17772 / $17772
Northwestern State University of Louisiana (Natchitoches) 13314$9409 / $20908$10454 / $21954
McNeese State University (Lake Charles) 8553$9409 / $17772$9409 / $17772
Centenary College of Louisiana (Shreveport) 588$35545 / $35545$10454 / $10454
Xavier University of Louisiana (New Orleans) 3490$27181 / $27181$8363 / $8363
Grambling State University (Grambling) 5979$8363 / $17772$8363 / $17772
Southern University and A & M College (Baton Rouge) 7747$10454 / $17772$11499 / $17772
Louisiana State University-Alexandria (Alexandria) 3104$7318 / $14636$N/A / $N/A
Louisiana College (Pineville) 1092$16727 / $16727$8363 / $8363
Dillard University (New Orleans) 1185$17772 / $17772$N/A / $N/A
Our Lady of the Lake College (Baton Rouge) 1643$15681 / $15681$20908 / $20908
University of Louisiana at Monroe (Monroe) 10030$9409 / $22999$10454 / $22999
Southeastern Louisiana University (Hammond) 17352$9409 / $21954$9409 / $22999
Southern University at New Orleans (New Orleans) 3046$8363 / $17772$9409 / $16727
Notre Dame Seminary Graduate School of Theology (New Orleans) 198$21954 / $21954$22999 / $22999
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport (Shreveport) 1039$11499 / $22999$16727 / $29272
University of Holy Cross (New Orleans) 1460$15681 / $15681$15681 / $15681
Herzing University-Kenner (Kenner) 762$15681 / $15681$12545 / $12545
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans (New Orleans) 3204$11499 / $19863$14636 / $27181
Saint Joseph Seminary College (St. Benedict) 140$17772 / $17772$N/A / $N/A
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (New Orleans) 3327$10454 / $10454$7318 / $7318

*UG - Undergraduate
*G - Graduate
*in - In-state Fees
*out - Out-of-State Fees
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