The Best Bachelor's in Finance Programs in Louisiana for 2027
Key Points: Best Finance Bachelor's Programs in Louisiana
- Tulane University of Louisiana ranks #1 in Louisiana on a 95.8 Program Score, with an 86% graduation rate.
- Public schools hold most of the places on this list.
- Cost and quality are not opposites here: the lowest-tuition program on the list, McNeese State University, ranks #5.
- Programs analyzed
- 5
- In-state tuition range
- $5,147-$64,372
- Average graduation rate
- 58%
- Median salary (BLS)
- $88,870
We analyzed 5 business programs in Louisiana on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes to rank where a bachelor's in finance actually pays off. In-state tuition among the 5 ranked programs in Louisiana runs from $5,147 to $64,372 a year, a $59,225 spread for the same credential.
Tulane University of Louisiana tops the list with a 95.8 Program Score on an 86% graduation rate, at $64,372 a year in-state. Across all 5 ranked schools, the average graduation rate is 58%, ranging from 38% to 86%. The national median pay in the field is $88,870 a year per the BLS, the same benchmark every ranked school here feeds into regardless of tuition paid.
The Top Finance Bachelor's Programs in Louisiana at a Glance
Tulane University of Louisiana leads at 95.8, and McNeese State closes the chart at 66.8. Longer bars rank higher.
How the Finance Bachelor's Programs in Louisiana Are Scored
Each Program Score runs from 0 to 100: outcomes count for 44%, selectivity and academics for 38%, and scale and value for 18%, all from federal data. See how the weights work.
The 5 Best Finance Bachelor's Programs in Louisiana, Ranked for 2027
The 5 best Finance Bachelor's Programs in Louisiana, ranked by outcomes.
Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans, LA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 86%
- Admit rate
- 14%
- In-state
- $64,372
- Out-of-state
- $64,372
The finance major includes experiential options such as producing an analyst report in Burkenroad Reports or investing real funds in the Darwin Fenner Student Managed Fund.
- 86% graduation rate
- Program Score 95.8
- $64,372 tuition
- Student-managed fund and Burkenroad Reports
Tulane's finance major sits inside the Bachelor of Science in Management at Tulane University of Louisiana's Freeman School of Business. It introduces financial markets, investments and financial analysis through core classes on valuation, accounting, investments and fixed income analysis. The degree requires a minimum of 124 credit hours and at least 30 hours of the Newcomb-Tulane College Core Curriculum. Required finance courses include advanced financial management, investments in equities and analysis of fixed income securities, plus three electives. Experiential options include producing an analyst's report in Burkenroad Reports, investing real funds in the Darwin Fenner Student Managed Fund (by invitation only), and the Aaron Selber courses on alternative investments. Optional tracks cover corporate finance and investments.
Federal data show an 86% graduation rate at Tulane and a selective admit rate of 14%. Tuition is $64,372 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program has a Program Score of 95.8 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits high-achieving students who want hands-on investing experience as undergraduates and who are prepared for both a competitive admissions process and the cost of a private nonprofit university.
Louisiana Tech University
Ruston, LA · Public
- Grad rate
- 64%
- Admit rate
- 86%
- In-state
- $6,401
- Out-of-state
- $13,142
Louisiana Tech University finance students manage a $1 million Student Managed Investment Fund and train in a Wall Street-style trading room.
- Program Score 74.5
- 64% graduation rate
- $1 million student-managed fund
- $6,401 in-state tuition
Louisiana Tech University offers a Bachelor of Science in Finance in its College of Business. Students manage the Student Managed Investment Fund, a $1 million portfolio for which they handle research, portfolio decisions and reporting under an advisory board of industry professionals. They also use Ray's Financial Trading Room, which the school says replicates a Wall Street trading floor with market data feeds and a live ticker board, and nine Bloomberg Terminals, with optional Bloomberg certifications in Market Concepts, Finance Fundamentals and Environmental Social Governance. The school describes the program as a CFA University Affiliated program that prepares students for the CFA exams. Career paths listed include financial analyst, portfolio manager, wealth management, credit analyst and loan officer.
Louisiana Tech reports a 64% graduation rate and admits 86% of applicants. In-state tuition is $6,401 and out-of-state tuition is $13,142. The program has a Program Score of 74.5 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want to manage real money before graduating, plan to pursue the CFA credential, and want to work with professional trading software in a public university setting.
Louisiana State University-Shreveport
Shreveport, LA · Public
- Grad rate
- 38%
- Admit rate
- 51%
- In-state
- $5,656
- Out-of-state
- $5,656
Louisiana State University-Shreveport finance offers five concentrations, including Financial Planning, Insurance and Real Estate, in an AACSB-accredited program.
- Program Score 73.7
- $5,656 tuition in state and out of state
- 5 finance concentrations
- In-person and online
Louisiana State University Shreveport offers a Bachelor of Science in Finance, available in person and online, with an estimated four years for first-time freshmen. Concentrations are Finance General, Financial Analysis, Financial Planning, Insurance and Real Estate. The school says the degree helps students prepare for the CFA and CFP exams and for Louisiana real estate or insurance licensure. Courses cover risk and return, international finance and the effect of technology on the profession. Internships are not required, but the school says they often lead to employment, and the Economics and Finance Department hosts networking events. The Student Finance Association gives majors a club option. The school reports AACSB accreditation and lists alumni employers such as Capital One, KPMG and SAIC.
LSUS reports a 38% graduation rate and admits 51% of applicants. In-state tuition is $5,656, the same as the out-of-state figure. The program has a Program Score of 73.7 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students in the Shreveport area who want a finance degree with licensure-oriented tracks, a regional internship network and the option of studying in person or online at a low public price.
University of Louisiana at Monroe
Monroe, LA · Public
- Grad rate
- 54%
- Admit rate
- 85%
- In-state
- $5,788
- Out-of-state
- $5,788
The finance major at University of Louisiana at Monroe is accredited by AACSB International, according to the school, and covers everything from commercial bank operations to derivative securities.
- 54% graduation rate
- Program Score 72.5
- $5,788 in-state and out-of-state tuition
- AACSB-accredited, per the school
The University of Louisiana at Monroe offers a bachelor's degree in finance through its College of Business and Social Sciences. Coursework spans commercial bank operations, corporate financial analysis, investments, derivative securities, real estate and international finance, all framed around business decision-making. The school reports that the finance program is accredited by AACSB International. Students are encouraged to join the Financial Management Association, a student-led group that brings in ULM alumni to describe positions and job duties in banking, corporate finance, investments and related fields. The department lists career paths in corporate finance, investments, real estate, international corporate finance and banking, and various banking roles.
The federal numbers show a school that is easy to enter and demanding to finish. ULM admits 85% of applicants and graduates 54% of its students. In-state and out-of-state tuition are the same, $5,788 a year, which helps students from other states. The finance program earns a Program Score of 72.5 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a traditional on-campus finance major with a banking and corporate focus at a public university with a low, flat sticker price.
McNeese State University
Lake Charles, LA · Public
- Grad rate
- 47%
- Admit rate
- 78%
- In-state
- $5,147
- Out-of-state
- $6,647
McNeese finance offers Financial Analysis, Financial Services and General Finance concentrations in a 120-credit B.S.B.A.
- Program Score 66.8
- $5,147 in-state tuition
- 3 finance concentrations
- LNG Business certificate option
McNeese State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a finance major, taught in person over four years and 120 credit hours. Students choose among concentrations in Financial Analysis, Financial Services and General Finance. The school says finance students learn how financial information shapes business decisions and how resources are managed. Internships and connections with the regional business community let students see finance in practice. College of Business students can add a minor in Entrepreneurship or Construction Management, or the Certificate in Liquefied Natural Gas Business, which ties coursework to a major Southwest Louisiana industry. Support comes from small classes and the Center for Learning and Student Success, which offers tutoring, writing support and career development.
McNeese reports a 47% graduation rate and admits 78% of applicants. In-state tuition is $5,147 and out-of-state tuition is $6,647. The program has a Program Score of 66.8 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students in the Lake Charles region who want a finance degree with a choice of three tracks, a possible link to the local energy sector through the LNG certificate, and a modest price for out-of-state students as well.
Graduation Rates at the Ranked Finance Bachelor's Programs in Louisiana
The median school on this list graduates 54% of its students. The highest rates belong to Tulane University of Louisiana (86%) and Louisiana Tech University (64%). The school with the highest rate is also ranked #1.
- #1 Tulane University of Louisiana86% graduation rate
- #2 Louisiana Tech University64% graduation rate
- #4 University of Louisiana at Monroe54% graduation rate
Institution-wide graduation rates reported to IPEDS. They describe the whole school, not this program alone.
How Selective Are the Finance Bachelor's Programs in Louisiana?
On this list, 1 school admits fewer than half of applicants, the most selective being Tulane University of Louisiana at 14%.
- #1 Tulane University of Louisiana14% admitted
- #3 Louisiana State University-Shreveport51% admitted
- #5 McNeese State University78% admitted
Institution-wide admit rates for first-time applicants, reported to IPEDS. Open-admission schools do not report one.
Public and Private Finance Bachelor's Programs in Louisiana
This list holds 4 public and 1 private nonprofit schools.
Control (public, private nonprofit, for-profit) as reported to IPEDS. Public schools usually charge residents less; private schools charge everyone the same rate.
Campus Size Across the Finance Bachelor's Programs in Louisiana
Enrollment on this list runs from 6,241 at McNeese State University to 13,310 at Tulane University of Louisiana.
Total institution enrollment reported to IPEDS, all levels and programs.
What Graduates of the Finance Bachelor's Programs in Louisiana Earn
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years outEarnings, 4 yrs | Average net priceNet price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Tulane University of LouisianaTulane University of Louisiana | $129,850 | $40,693 |
| #2 | Louisiana Tech UniversityLouisiana Tech | $67,216 | $11,959 |
| #5 | McNeese State UniversityMcNeese State | $62,705 | $11,228 |
Graduates of Tulane University of Louisiana earn the most four years after finishing, a median of $129,850; the lowest figure here is $62,705 at McNeese State.
Tulane University of Louisiana leads on both counts: the top rank among these schools and the highest graduate pay.
Net price, what the average aided undergraduate pays after grants, ranges from $11,228 a year at McNeese State to $40,693 at Tulane University of Louisiana.
College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Earnings cover each school's programs in this field at this degree level; net price is for full-time first-time undergraduates receiving aid.
What a Bachelor's in Finance Costs in Louisiana
In-state tuition among the 5 ranked finance programs in Louisiana runs from $5,147 to $64,372 a year. McNeese State University anchors the low end at $5,147, while Tulane University of Louisiana sits at the top at $64,372. At public schools that in-state figure is the resident rate; out-of-state students routinely pay two to three times as much, which can reorder this list entirely for anyone moving in from elsewhere.
Run the four-year math and the gap widens: about $20,588 in tuition at the low end against roughly $257,488 at the high end for the same bachelor's in finance. Against the national median of $88,870 a year, the cheaper degree pays its tuition back far faster.
Published annual tuition and required fees reported to IPEDS. Private schools charge one rate regardless of residency; public schools charge non-residents the out-of-state rate shown on each card.
Online Finance Options in Louisiana
The 5 ranked Louisiana programs are campus-based, so this list suits students who can attend in person. If you are weighing an online finance degree from another school, accreditation attaches to the program and school, not the delivery format, so an accredited online degree carries the same standing as its on-campus version.
Finance Careers and Pay After a Louisiana Program
Every degree on this list points toward the same national labor market. The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts national median pay in the field at $88,870 a year, a figure that applies across the profession rather than to any single school here, and it holds whether a graduate paid $4,922 or $64,372 a year in tuition. That is the core tradeoff this ranking is built to expose: a higher price does not buy a higher starting salary in the federal wage data.
Keep Exploring
Finance Bachelor's Programs in Louisiana: Your Questions, Answered
What is the best finance bachelor's degree in Louisiana?
By Program Score, Tulane University of Louisiana ranks first among the 5 finance programs in Louisiana we analyzed, with a 95.8 score and an 86% graduation rate. The score weighs graduation rate, selectivity, in-state cost, and outcomes, so the top school balances all four rather than winning on any one.
How much does a finance bachelor's degree cost in Louisiana?
In-state tuition among the ranked Louisiana programs runs from $4,922 to $64,372 a year. These are resident rates at public schools; out-of-state students pay more, so confirm your residency status and check the out-of-state column before comparing.
Is an online finance bachelor's degree respected by employers?
Yes, when the school is accredited. An accredited online degree lists the same on a transcript as the on-campus version, and accreditation, not delivery format, is what protects the credential. Every program ranked here is accredited and reporting to the federal IPEDS system.
What salary can graduates expect?
The BLS reports a national median of $88,870 a year for the field. That is a national benchmark, not an Louisiana-specific figure or a promised outcome for any single school, but it is the number every tuition dollar on this page should be measured against.