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2026 Best Trade Schools in Louisiana
Looking for the best Trade degree programs in Louisiana? This list ranks 113 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Trade College analyzed 83 schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Trade Degree Schools in Louisiana
Here are the top-ranked schools:
No school ranked higher than Herzing University Kenner this year in Louisiana. Set in Metairie, LA, Herzing University Kenner is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,450. Typical Trade student debt is $33,897. Get the full Herzing University Kenner report
You'll be in good company at University Of Louisiana Monroe, which ranked #2 this year. Based in Monroe, LA, University Of Louisiana Monroe is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,190, while out-of-state students pay about $21,290. Typical Trade student debt is $22,465. More on University Of Louisiana Monroe
Out of the 83 schools in Louisiana in this year's ranking, University Of Louisiana Lafayette landed the #3 spot. This public school is set in Lafayette, LA. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,418, compared with $24,146 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,373 to complete their Trade program here. More on University Of Louisiana Lafayette
Out of the 83 schools in Louisiana in this year's ranking, Remington College Lafayette Campus landed the #4 spot. Set in Lafayette, LA, Remington College Lafayette Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,312. Graduates carry a median of $16,229 in student loans. More on Remington College Lafayette Campus
The strong Trade programs at Nicholls State University earned it the #5 place in Louisiana. This public school is set in Thibodaux, LA. About 54% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,149, compared with $9,242 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,513 in student loans. See the full Nicholls State University profile
Louisiana Tech University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Ruston, LA, Louisiana Tech University is a public institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $10,125, with out-of-state students paying around $16,866. Students borrow a median of $23,846 to complete their Trade program here. Read more about Louisiana Tech University
Northwestern State University Of Louisiana ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Set in Natchitoches, LA, Northwestern State University Of Louisiana is a public institution. Northwestern State University Of Louisiana posts a six-year graduation rate of 45%. In-state tuition and fees average $8,864, with out-of-state students paying around $19,652. Graduates carry a median of $28,061 in student loans. See the full Northwestern State University Of Louisiana profile
Bossier Parish Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Set in Bossier City, LA, Bossier Parish Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,268. Graduates carry a median of $20,593 in student loans. Read the full report on Bossier Parish Community College
South Louisiana Community College landed the #9 spot in Louisiana this year. Based in Lafayette, LA, South Louisiana Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,210. Graduates carry a median of $12,435 in student loans. See the full South Louisiana Community College profile
Louisiana State University Alexandria came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Located in Alexandria, LA, Louisiana State University Alexandria is a public institution. Louisiana State University Alexandria graduates 34% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $7,050 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,725. Louisiana State University Alexandria Trade students take on a median of $24,656 in debt. See the full Louisiana State University Alexandria profile
L E Fletcher Technical Community College landed the #11 spot in Louisiana this year. Set in Schriever, LA, L E Fletcher Technical Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,219. Students borrow a median of $5,396 to complete their Trade program here. Get the full L E Fletcher Technical Community College report
Louisiana State University Eunice came in at #12 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Eunice, LA. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,802, with out-of-state students paying around $10,166. Students borrow a median of $16,239 to complete their Trade program here. See the full Louisiana State University Eunice profile
Southeastern Louisiana University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Based in Hammond, LA, Southeastern Louisiana University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,373, while out-of-state students pay about $20,851. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete their Trade program here. See the full Southeastern Louisiana University profile
Our Lady Of Holy Cross College came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Located in New Orleans, LA, Our Lady Of Holy Cross College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 40% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $16,576 in tuition and fees. The median Trade program debt is $43,500. More on Our Lady Of Holy Cross College
Southern University At Shreveport came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Based in Shreveport, LA, Southern University At Shreveport is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,958. Typical Trade student debt is $22,135. Read more about Southern University At Shreveport
Northshore Technical Community College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Northshore Technical Community College is a public school based in Lacombe, LA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,299. Graduates carry a median of $14,815 in student loans. More on Northshore Technical Community College
Nunez Community College did well this year, earning the #17 position. Nunez Community College is a public school based in Chalmette, LA. In-state tuition and fees average $4,255. Nunez Community College Trade students take on a median of $21,296 in debt. Read more about Nunez Community College
Louisiana Delta Community College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Louisiana Delta Community College is a public school based in Monroe, LA. In-state tuition and fees average $4,159. Louisiana Delta Community College Trade students take on a median of $14,024 in debt. Read the full report on Louisiana Delta Community College
Baton Rouge Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Located in Baton Rouge, LA, Baton Rouge Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,321. Typical Trade student debt is $17,624. See the full Baton Rouge Community College profile
Delgado Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Delgado Community College is a public school based in New Orleans, LA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,279. The median Trade program debt is $25,283. More on Delgado Community College
Delta College Inc came in at #21 in this year's ranking. More on Delta College Inc
Delta College Of Arts And Technology Lafayette Campus ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read more about Delta College Of Arts And Technology Lafayette Campus
Southern University Law Center came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Southern University Law Center
Unitech Training Academy Houma landed the #24 spot in Louisiana this year. Get the full Unitech Training Academy Houma report
Celebrity Stylist Beauty School ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. More on Celebrity Stylist Beauty School
Rest of the Top 50 Best Trade Degree Schools in Louisiana
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Vh Barber And Styling Academy landed the #26 spot in Louisiana this year. See the full Vh Barber And Styling Academy profile
Healthcare Training Institute Kenner landed the #27 spot in Louisiana this year. More on Healthcare Training Institute Kenner
Vanguard College Of Cosmetology Metairie did well this year, earning the #28 position. See the full Vanguard College Of Cosmetology Metairie profile
Southern University And A And M College did well this year, earning the #29 position. Get the full Southern University And A And M College report
Unitech Training Academy Lafayette ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. See the full Unitech Training Academy Lafayette profile
Bos Mans Barber College landed the #31 spot in Louisiana this year. More on Bos Mans Barber College
New Orleans Culinary And Hospitality Institute ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Get the full New Orleans Culinary And Hospitality Institute report
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read the full report on Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
Compass Career College came in at #34 in this year's ranking. Read more about Compass Career College
Cloyds Beauty School 1 Inc placed #35 among Trade schools in Louisiana. Read the full report on Cloyds Beauty School 1 Inc
Unitech Training Academy Alexandria ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read more about Unitech Training Academy Alexandria
Ayers Career College ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. More on Ayers Career College
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary did well this year, earning the #38 position. Get the full New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary report
River Parishes Community College landed the #39 spot in Louisiana this year. More on River Parishes Community College
Nationsuniversity did well this year, earning the #40 position. Read more about Nationsuniversity
Avery James School Of Cosmetology came in at #41 in this year's ranking. More on Avery James School Of Cosmetology
Louisiana College came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Louisiana College
Iti Technical College placed #43 among Trade schools in Louisiana. Read the full report on Iti Technical College
Js Barber College placed #44 among Trade schools in Louisiana. See the full Js Barber College profile
Xavier University Of Louisiana ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Get the full Xavier University Of Louisiana report
My Les Beauty College Gretna placed #46 among Trade schools in Louisiana. More on My Les Beauty College Gretna
Louisiana Culinary Institute ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read the full report on Louisiana Culinary Institute
Academy Of Interactive Entertainment Lafayette placed #48 among Trade schools in Louisiana. See the full Academy Of Interactive Entertainment Lafayette profile
Opelousas School Of Cosmetology ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read more about Opelousas School Of Cosmetology
Cloyds Barber School 2 Inc did well this year, earning the #50 position. Read the full report on Cloyds Barber School 2 Inc
More Trade Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 83 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 113 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).