The Best Grad Schools in Louisiana
With hundreds of graduate school programs to choose from in Louisiana, it can be difficult to determine which university offers the best graduate degrees for your goals.
And choosing the best grad school for you is vital to ensuring your future success and happiness, whether that小蝌蚪APP檚 in a STEM discipline, liberal arts and the humanities, or a professional program. With similar graduate programs at universities like LSU, Louisiana Tech, UNO, Tulane 小蝌蚪APP, Loyola 小蝌蚪APP, and even across the nation, it小蝌蚪APP檚 important to know which grad school is the best choice for you.
When you小蝌蚪APP檙e deciding which Louisiana graduate school to apply to and attend, it小蝌蚪APP檚 important to think about these factors:
Research Activity
There is no question that the top graduate schools have an enormous emphasis on research 小蝌蚪APP and they bring in the funds to support that research. UL Lafayette is among the top 200 universities in the country for research and development funding, and we小蝌蚪APP檙e among the top 50 universities for computer science research and development funding 小蝌蚪APP more than any other Louisiana university. That means our professors have the support they need to make groundbreaking and life-changing discoveries. The best graduate degrees are focused around research, and when our professors have that financial and institutional support, it translates into funding and research opportunities for our graduate students.
Our faculty and graduate student researchers regularly receive grant funding from the National Science Foundation, the Louisiana Board of Regents, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Geological Survey, the EPA, the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Energy, totaling $75 million each year.
Location
Lafayette, LA, is the heart of Cajun country, but we have more to offer than just fantastic food and a vibrant local culture. Of the best grad schools in Louisiana, UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 location offers the most for grad students in the sciences and the humanities.
Lafayette is part of the region nicknamed the 小蝌蚪APP淪ilicon Bayou,小蝌蚪APP a hotbed of technology research and development. Our internationally known 小蝌蚪APP plus our recession-proof economy 小蝌蚪APP were deciding factors in bringing three new technology centers and thousands of jobs to Lafayette.
UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 close relationship with the oil and petroleum energy industry helps fuel research into alternative energy sources, and offers ample opportunities for our and students. And our unique, well preserved culture is a draw for Francophiles, anthropologists, and Southern literature enthusiasts. Our graduates include best-selling authors, whose works are influenced by our history and culture.
You小蝌蚪APP檒l also find unique and exceptional doctoral programs at UL Lafayette, including our , and one of North America小蝌蚪APP檚 most distinctive programs, where you learn about the Francophone culture in the heart of Francophone America.
Size
Not too big, not too small -- the best grad schools fit just right. When deciding between top graduate schools, it小蝌蚪APP檚 important to look at the size of the student body and the student-to-faculty ratio. UL Lafayette has about 425 graduate faculty members and 1,600 graduate students. A large graduate faculty gives you access to a wide range of expertise and knowledge to draw from when completing your research. Having a small graduate student-to-faculty ratio means that you have nearly constant access to your professors, working closely with them to receive a personalized education.
But it小蝌蚪APP檚 not enough to just have a close student-to-faculty ratio 小蝌蚪APP those faculty members need to be committed to your education and to creating opportunities for you. The best graduate degrees are defined by the faculty members小蝌蚪APP enthusiasm for their field and for your success. Because of the size of our grad school, our faculty are mentors for our students, working together closely to help our students reach their academic and personal goals. Our graduate faculty consistently receive national and international recognition for their research and their work both in and out of the classroom 小蝌蚪APP which students are consistently a part of. Our faculty and graduate students present their research at conferences around the world and are published in dozens of peer-reviewed journals every year.
Cost
It小蝌蚪APP檚 no surprise that attending one of the best grad schools in Louisiana, or anywhere, is a big investment.
According to Washington Monthly and Best Value Schools, UL Lafayette is consistently one of the most affordable universities in Louisiana and the country. We offer hundreds of campus-based and research-based assistantships and fellowships, which help our students cover the cost of their education so they can focus on their work in the classroom, in archives, in labs, and in the field.