The first thing the comes to mind when most people think of Louisiana is New Orleans and Mardi Gras. Louisiana is well known for its vibrant celebrations and carefree lifestyle. But there is much more to Louisiana than fun and festivities. It is also known for its unique mix of Creole and Cajun cultural, rich heritage, diverse music, sporting events, exquisite foods and more.
In 2005, the state was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina, causing many fatalities and injuries. At the time the state was already experiencing a nursing shortage, which worsened following the hurricane. With a statewide population of just over 4.5 million, the demand for health care services seems never ending. Qualified health care professionals are in high demand and there is particularly high demand for qualified nurses. In fact, many employers, including hospitals, offer signing bonuses and other incentives to attract nurses.
Search Louisiana Nursing Schools
Some of the top employers of nurses in Lousiana include CHRISTUS Schumpert Saint Mary Place, Willis-Knighton Medical Center, Saint Francis Medical Center, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center.
If you’re interested in working as a nurse in Louisiana, you’ll need to earn a diploma, associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree in nursing. While many student opt for a diploma, since it’s the easiet to obtain, more students pursue the associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) or bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN), with the later being the most popular. Earning a diploma will qualify you to become a licensed practical nursing (LPN) or licensed vocational nurse (LVN). An LPN will allow you to qualify for entry-level nursing and nurse support positions at hospitals and health care facilities. However, most employers are looking for registered nurses (RNs). To become an RN you’ll need to earn your ADN or BSN. While either degree will do, the BSN provides for much greater career advancement opportunities and is the degree of choice among employers.
Salaries
| $38k | Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) |
| $60k | Registered Nurse (RN)* |
| $97k | Nurse Practitioner |
Schools
| 37 | Colleges and Universities |
| 37 | Offer Undergraduate Degrees |
| 11 | Offer Graduate Degrees |
Sources: Salary info from Bureau of Labor Statistics, School info from National Center for Education Statistics. *Includes Clinical Nurse Specialists. Excludes nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners.
Below you can explore nursing schools and colleges in Louisiana offering various degree programs in nursing.
Browse Louisiana nursing schools:
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Our Lady of the Lake College
Location:
Baton Rouge, LA
Student Enrollment: 900
Type of School: Private
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: Associate
learn more… -
Louisiana State University, Alexandria
Location:
Alexandria, LA
Student Enrollment: 2,675
Type of School: Public
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: Associate, LPN-to-RN, RN-to-BSN
nursing.lsua.edu -
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
Location:
New Orleans, LA
Student Enrollment: 770
Type of School: Public
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: RN-to-BSN, BS/BSN, Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse Practitioner, PhD (Doctoral)
www.lsuhsc.edu -
Delgado Community College
Location:
New Orleans, LA
Student Enrollment: 13,000
Type of School: Public
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: Associate, LPN-to-RN, LPN
www.dcc.edu -
Southeastern Louisiana University
Location:
Hammond, LA
Student Enrollment: 12,900
Type of School: Public
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: BS/BSN
www.selu.edu -
University of Louisiana – Monroe
Location:
Monroe, LA
Student Enrollment: 9,000
Type of School: Public
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: BS/BSN, RN-to-BSN
www.ulm.edu -
Grambling State University
Location:
Grambling, LA
Student Enrollment: 4,990
Type of School: Public
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: Yes
Degree Programs: RN-to-BSN, BS/BSN, MSN, Nurse Educator, Nurse Practitioner
www.gram.edu -
Louisiana College
Location:
Pineville, LA
Student Enrollment: 1,000
Type of School: Private
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: BS/BSN
www.lacollege.edu -
Louisiana State University at Eunice
Location:
Eunice, LA
Student Enrollment: 3,000
Type of School: Public
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: Associate
www.lsue.edu -
Louisiana Technical University
Location:
Ruston, LA
Student Enrollment: 7,400
Type of School: Public
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: Associate
www.latech.edu -
McNeese State University
Location:
Lake Charles, LA
Student Enrollment: 6,700
Type of School: Public
College Accredited: No
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: Associate, BS/BSN, Nurse Practitioner
www.mcneese.edu -
Nicholls State University
Location:
Thibodaux, LA
Student Enrollment: 6,500
Type of School: Public
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: Associate, BS/BSN, RN-to-BSN
www.nicholls.edu -
William Carey College — New Orleans Campus
Location:
New Orleans, LA
Student Enrollment:
Type of School: Private
College Accredited: No
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: BS/BSN, RN-to-BSN
www.wmcarey.edu -
University of Louisiana – Lafayette
Location:
Lafayette, LA
Student Enrollment: 14,100
Type of School: Public
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: BS/BSN, Nurse Practitioner
www.louisiana.edu -
Delta College of Arts & Technology
Location:
Baton Rouge, LA
Student Enrollment: 190
Type of School: Private
College Accredited: No
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: LPN
www.deltacollege.com -
Baton Rouge General Medical Center
Location:
Baton Rouge, LA
Student Enrollment: 70
Type of School: Private
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: Diploma
www.brgeneral.org -
Southern University A&M College School of Nursing
Location:
Baton Rouge, LA
Student Enrollment: 8,290
Type of School: Public
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: BS/BSN, MSN, Nurse Practitioner, PhD (Doctoral)
web.subr.edu -
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Location:
Natchitoches, LA
Student Enrollment: 8,000
Type of School: Public
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: Associate, BS/BSN, Nurse Practitioner
www.nsula.edu -
Our Lady of the Holy Cross College
Location:
New Orleans, LA
Student Enrollment: 1,100
Type of School: Private
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: BS/BSN
www.olhcc.edu -
Loyola University – New Orleans
Location:
New Orleans, LA
Student Enrollment: 4,715
Type of School: Private
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: Yes
Degree Programs: RN-to-BSN, MSN, Nurse Practitioner, DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice)
css.loyno.edu -
Dillard University
Location:
New Orleans, LA
Student Enrollment: 1,125
Type of School: Private
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: BS/BSN, LPN-to-RN, LPN-to-BSN
www.dillard.edu