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Best Free and Low-Cost Online Colleges and Universities In Louisiana
The state famous for its Creole and Cajun cultures, its French Quarter, Mardi Gras festival, and Dixieland jazz music is also full of state universities dedicated to providing excellence in education to Louisiana's diverse student population.
Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), Louisiana's public universities offer many online undergraduate programs.
List of Free and Low-Cost Colleges with Online Degree Programs
1. The University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) has 13 degree programs available online.
- Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
- Bachelor of Arts in Modern Languages (French concentration)
- Bachelor of Arts in History
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Bachelor of Business Administration
- Bachelor of Business Administration (Marketing)
- Bachelor of Business Administration (Management)
- Bachelor of General Studies
- Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
- Bachelor of Science in Health Studies (Healthcare Marketing/Management)
- Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology
- Nursing RN to BSN
Students enrolled in an undergraduate online degree program at ULM will pay $400 per credit hour, which comes to $4,800 for a 12-credit semester.
2. The University of New Orleans provides an unusual mix of online undergraduate degree programs.
- Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
- Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
- Bachelor of Arts in English
- Bachelor of Arts in Romance Languages
- Bachelor of Science in Urban Studies and Planning
All online undergraduate students pay the same tuition and fees rate, even out-of-state students. The cost for 15-credit hour semester is $9,454. That's almost a $5,000 savings for out-of-state students!
3. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette offers five online degree programs.
- Business Administration in Management
- Bachelor of General Studies
- Health Promotion & Wellness
- Health Services Administration
- Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)
Students at ULL who enroll in an online degree program pay a tuition rate of $380 per credit hour. If you take 12 credits per semester, that will total $4,560 per semester.
4. Louisiana State University's LSU Online program offers online bachelor's degree programs not only from its main campus in Baton Rouge but through its campuses in Alexandria and Shreveport as well.
- Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (LSU Alexandria)
- Bachelor of General Studies (LSU Shreveport)
- Bachelor of General Studies - Humanities (LSU Alexandria)
- Bachelor of General Studies - Social Science (LSU Alexandria)
- Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (LSU)
Tuition for online undergraduate degrees at LSU is $399 per credit hour, which adds up to $4,788 for a 12-credit semester load.
5. Louisiana Tech University, based in Ruston, has two online bachelor's degree programs:
- Bachelor of Science - Health Informatics and Information Management
- Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
To enroll in an online undergraduate program at Louisiana Tech, you would pay $1,013 per credit hour in tuition and mandatory fees. LA Tech is on a quarter system.
6. If you enroll at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, you have seven options to choose from.
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- Bachelor of Science in Management
- Bachelor of Science in Health Systems Management
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-to-BSN)
- Bachelor of Arts in Sociology: Family Science
- Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
Tuition and fees for one semester at McNeese State University are $4,500 for in-state students, $5,000 for out-of-state students, and $5,500 for international students.
How Can I Get an Online College Degree for Free in Louisiana?
If you qualify for tuition waivers, you may be able to attend for free. For example, state residents over the age of 55 receive free tuition and also a 50% reduction in the cost of textbooks.
Members of the National Guard may be eligible for the STEP tuition exemption program.
Full-time students who are children, spouses, or surviving spouses of veterans killed in action, died in active service, or who were rated 90% service-connected disabled receive a Veteran Affairs Fee Exemption.
Full-time faculty or staff in the University of Louisiana System or their dependents may be eligible for a tuition exemption.
Financial Aid: Federal Student Aid and Other Scholarships
FAFSA
For Louisiana students to qualify for financial aid, they or their family must complete and submit the federal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, which determines the student's eligibility for federal financial aid as well as for many scholarship and grant programs. Applicants can learn more about the FAFSA on the Federal Student Aid website.
Pell Grant
Federal Pell Grants are awarded to eligible Louisiana undergraduate students who have exceptional financial need. Your FAFSA application will determine your eligibility. The maximum Federal Pell Grant award is $7,395 for the 2023-24 academic year.
How Can I Cover Additional Online Degree Costs in Louisiana?
The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOFSA), a program of the Board of Regents, provides many scholarships to Louisiana students. These include the merit-based Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) programs, the Louisiana Geaux Teach Scholarship Program, the Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship, the Chafee Educational and Training Voucher (ETV) Program, and the Completers Grant.
FAQs Regarding Free Online College Degrees in Louisiana
How Else Can I Pay for College Online in Louisiana?
If you cannot afford the tuition for the undergraduate degree program of your choice, work closely with a financial aid officer at the university to find scholarships, grants, loans, and other types of financial support at the institutional or departmental level. For example, the University of New Orleans' online B.A. in Philosophy degree awards the $1,000 Carl Muckley Award to every philosophy major upon graduation.
Does FAFSA Cover Online College in Louisiana?
Yes, students who complete the FAFSA application process make themselves eligible for a full range of financial aid for their online degree program's expenses.
Do People with Certain Medical Conditions Qualify for Free Online College Tuition in Louisiana?
Students with a chronic health condition or medical history may qualify for any number of scholarships such as the AbbVie Cystic Fibrosis Scholarship, the Cancer for College General Scholarship, Cancer Survivor's Fund, Diabetes Scholars, or the Winterhoff Arthritis Scholarship. Check with your financial aid office.
Find a Free or Low-Cost Degree Online in Louisiana Today
For any questions you might have about finding the online degree program in Louisiana that's right for you, reach out to our team at Best Accredited Colleges, and we can help you find the program and the financial support you need.
