Psychology Schools in Louisiana
The following guide to schools in Louisiana provides you with important information on the many undergraduate and graduate psychology programs in the state and is designed to help you find the best program for your academic and career goals. The psychology programs at Louisiana’s colleges and universities allow students to focus on numerous areas of psychology, including general psychology, forensic psychology, and psychometrics psychology. A convenient and flexible alternative to traditional psychology programs is online universities that offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in psychology.
Quick Facts
- There are 22 not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs in Louisiana.1
- No schools offer an associate’s degree in psychology.1
- 21 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in psychology.1
- 14 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in psychology.1
- 2 schools ranked in Kiplinger’s Best College Values for 2019.2
- 2 schools ranked in the Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors for 2018.3
- No schools ranked in PsychologyDegree411’s Top Schools with Online Psychology Programs.4
- No schools ranked in Times Higher Education’s Best Universities for Psychology 2019.5
For not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs.
Top-Ranked Schools with Psychology Programs in Louisiana
Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019*
- Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (#93)
- Louisiana Tech University (#65)
*Institution-wide ranking.
Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors for 2018
- Loyola University New Orleans
- Xavier University of Louisiana
Continue reading to learn more about the graduate and undergraduate programs offered at Louisiana’s top universities.
Schools in Louisiana with Psychology Programs
Traditional Undergraduate Programs
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University’s undergraduate program in psychology leads to the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology. The 120-credit program typically takes four years to complete. In addition to general college requirements in math, science, and social sciences, psychology majors must complete such required courses as Introduction to Psychology, Statistics, Experimental Psychology, and the History of Psychology. Students are encouraged to enroll in research courses and assist faculty with their current research. Research may focus on visual memory and attention, severe mental illness, and adult development and aging. Eligible students may also join the honors program. The honors program requires the completion of 12 credits, including a thesis.
Tulane University
Tulane University’s Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology is the university’s self-proclaimed top program. Psychology majors will take a vast array of courses on such topics as introduction to psychology, univariate statistics, the psychology of disaster, behavior modification and analysis, and cognitive neuroscience. A capstone project is required in the senior year. Students are encouraged to pursue an undergraduate research assistantship to gain valuable research skills, and eligible students may write an honors thesis. Psychology majors may want to join the Psychology Club, the Tulane University Neuroscience Association, or Psi Chi, the national honor society for psychology students.
Traditional Graduate Programs
University of Louisiana
The University of Louisiana at Monroe’s Master of Science (MS) in Psychology features three concentrations to choose from: general psychology, forensic psychology, or psychometrics psychology. The general psychology concentration is designed to prepare students, through two years of courses and intensive research, to continue on to doctoral study. The program requires students to complete a minimum of 36 credits in such courses as social cognition and intelligence testing. Graduate students pursuing the forensic psychology concentration typically move on to doctoral study or enter the field, working under a forensic psychologist. The 36-credit program spans two years and students may be eligible for one of a limited number of assistantships in the psychology department. Graduate students in the psychometric concentration generally graduate and enter the field, working in such areas as psychological assessment, or continue on to doctoral studies. The program also runs two years and requires 36 credits.
Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Louisiana University confers the Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology to students who successfully complete the two-year, 38-credit graduate program. Graduate students must complete 26 credits of required courses which encompass learning, memory, and cognition; social psychology; and experimental design and analysis. A thesis is required as are 12 credits of electives in topics including history and systems, individual research in psychology, and developmental psychology. Participating in a practicum is also encouraged, and all students must successfully pass a comprehensive exam after completing five courses. Students who fail the exam twice will be dismissed from the program. Graduate students may be eligible for one of 10 assistantships, which will help defray educational costs and provide a stipend.
Online Psychology Programs
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Northwestern State University of Louisiana offers an online Bachelor of Science in Psychology that provides students with a broad background in psychology as well as opportunities to begin specializing in various areas within the field. The degree prepares graduates for entry-level careers in human resources, communications, and mental health support while also laying the groundwork for graduate study. Faculty who teach the program have backgrounds in clinical and counseling psychology as well as deep experience in their fields of particular expertise. Courses within the program include Psychology as a Profession, Introduction to Experimental Methodology, Statistics for Psychology, and Psychology in Business & Industry. 48 credit hours of psychology courses are required to earn the degree, which takes a total of 120 credit hours to complete.
McNeese State University
McNeese State University is home to an online Master of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis. The master’s program specifically prepares graduates to work as applied behavior analysts in community settings. The curriculum includes academic training as well as fieldwork and supervised experiences that emphasize assessments and interventions in order to adequately prepare students for work in the real world. To be considered for admission students must have a minimum score of 285 on the GRE and an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5, as well as meet statistics and undergraduate psychology course prerequisites. The MA in Psychology requires 55 credit hours to complete and includes such courses as Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis, Psychopathology, Applied Behavior Analysis Interventions, and Ethics for Behavior Analysts.
EPPP Pass Rate and Accreditation Information for Psychology Programs in Louisiana
The table below is designed to help you compare not-for-profit psychology schools in Louisiana on a variety of factors. Clicking on the arrows in the top row allows you to sort the table. In addition to factors such as focus areas offered and tuition costs, accreditation is an important consideration when researching psychology programs. Depending on the type of program and the ultimate career path you are considering, accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA), the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Education Programs (CACREP), or the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS) can make it easier to become licensed in your desired area of practice. For more information on these accreditations, see our overview of accreditation for psychology programs. You should also ensure that the program you are considering will meet the licensure requirements in the state where you wish to practice. The Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP), a licensing exam administered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), is required in most US states in order to qualify for psychologist licensure. The EPPP results shown below are provided are for the exam period from February 1, 2015 to March 21, 2017.6 Only results from APA-accredited or ASPPB-designated doctoral programs with at least four test-takers during the exam period are included.6
| School | BA/BS | Grad Prog. | Online Prog. | Nat’l Accred.* | Grad Rate** | EPPP Pass Rate6 | # Taking6 | College Factual Under- grad Rank7 | US News Grad Rank8 | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centenary College of Louisiana | Yes | No | No | — | 60% | — | — | — | — | $25,897 |
| Dillard University | Yes | No | No | — | 42% | — | — | — | — | $17,590 |
| Grambling State University | Yes | No | No | — | 33% | — | — | — | — | $18,009 |
| Louisiana College | Yes | No | No | — | 30% | — | — | — | — | $12,572 |
| Louisiana State University and A & M College (Clinical PhD) | Yes | Yes | No | APA, CACREP, NASP | 67% | 100% | 18 | 227 | 148^ | $17,437 |
| Louisiana State University and A & M College (School PhD) | Yes | Yes | No | APA, CACREP, NASP | 67% | 100% | 5 | 227 | 148^ | $17,437 |
| Louisiana State University-Alexandria | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | — | 30% | — | — | — | — | $7,682 |
| Louisiana State University-Shreveport | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP, NASP | 33% | — | — | — | — | $8,622 |
| Louisiana Tech University | Yes | Yes | No | APA, CACREP | 54% | 89% | 9 | — | — | $9,795 |
| Loyola University New Orleans | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | CACREP | 61% | — | — | — | — | $22,804 |
| McNeese State University | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s, Master’s | CACREP | 45% | — | — | — | — | $9,985 |
| Nicholls State University | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | CACREP, NASP | 45% | — | — | — | — | $10,496 |
| Northwestern State University of Louisiana | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | CACREP | 45% | — | — | — | — | $10,448 |
| Southeastern Louisiana University | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP | 40% | — | — | — | — | $11,232 |
| Southern University and A & M College | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | CACREP | 30% | — | — | — | — | $15,856 |
| Southern University at New Orleans | Yes | No | No | — | 25% | — | — | — | — | $5,976 |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Xavier University of Louisiana | No | Yes | No | — | N/A | — | — | — | — | N/A |
| Tulane University | Yes | Yes | No | APA | 85% | 88% | 8 | 68 | 148^ | $37,692 |
| University of Holy Cross | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | CACREP | 49% | — | — | — | — | $12,886 |
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP | 48% | — | — | — | — | $11,190 |
| University of Louisiana at Monroe | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s, Master’s | CACREP | 44% | — | — | — | — | $9,455 |
| University of New Orleans | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP | 37% | — | — | — | — | $9,859 |
| Xavier University of Louisiana | Yes | No | No | CACREP | 49% | — | — | — | — | $18,227 |
Schools marked with a caret (^) in US News Best Graduate Psychology Programs ranked in a tie with other programs in their respective positions.
*See our guide to psychology program accreditation for more information on these accrediting bodies.
**The graduation rate is for first-time, full-time undergraduate degree- or certificate-seeking students who began studies in Fall 2012 and is calculated based on the percentage of students earning their degree or certificate within 150% of the normal time for program completion.1
Schools with Psychology Degree Programs in Louisiana
Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the “Data, Student Reviews and Other Information” section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.
McNeese State University
4205 Ryan St
Lake Charles, LA 70605
(337) 475-5000
https://www.mcneese.edu/
Student Review: “The experience that I had at McNeese State University was a bit of disappointment. The classes were not challenging to me at all. Most of what I was taught there was already taught to me in my high school. Because of this, I lost interest in school and every day was dreadful. I did not want to be there at all. The only upside about the whole situation was that there was a lot of help at the school and I really liked that. This is probably the only reason I passed and graduated with a 3.3 GPA. I would attend as many tutoring courses as I could and I would ask my teachers questions whenever they were available.” – student at McNeese State University
Student Review: “I was highly unhappy and disappointed during my time at McNeese State University. I just felt like an outsider from my freshman year all the way to my senior year. I made no friends at all so I did not experience the “college life.” The curriculum was very basic for a state school and often left me unchallenged. This all left me uninterested and often failing. The only good thing about school was there was a lot of help from teachers when I did have trouble. I even graduated on time due to this help from the teachers.” – student at McNeese State University
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Kiplinger’s Best College Values: https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-best-college-values-college-finder/index.php#Table
3. The Princeton Review. The Best 382 Colleges, 2018 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2017.
4. PsychologyDegree411 Top Schools with Online Psychology Programs: https://www.psychologydegree411.com/degrees/online/
5. Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019 – Psychology: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2019/subject-ranking/psychology
6. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, Psychology Licensing Exam Scores by Doctoral Program: https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.asppb.net/resource/resmgr/eppp_/2017_Doctoral_Report.pdf
7. College Factual, Best Colleges Offering Degrees in Psychology (Nationwide): https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/psychology/rankings/top-ranked/#
8. US News & World Report Best Graduate Psychology Programs: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-humanities-schools/psychology-rankings