New Orleans is home to 10 colleges, with about 38,000 students on campus
Tulane University of Louisiana (11,335 students on campus) and Delgado Community College (6,925) are inside the city. About 8% of New Orleans’ residents are enrolled in college, above Louisiana (6%).
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of New Orleans. Colleges are described, not graded.
Within 15 miles
13
40,960 students on campus
Nearest college
6.9 mi
Southern University at New Orleans
Residents in college
8%
Above LA (6%)
Nearest community college
7 mi
Nunez · $4,255 tuition
Nearest public university
6.9 mi
Southern University at New Orleans · $8,054 in-state
Median household income
$57K
prices below start here
What stands out about college in New Orleans
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What it costs
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.
Family income
Starts at $48–75k, where New Orleans’ median household income ($56,631) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Outcomes
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of New Orleans: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Tulane University of Louisiana86% graduate$63k earnings$20k typical debt
Delgado Community College24% graduate$33k earnings$20k typical debt
University of New Orleans38% graduate$48k earnings$19k typical debt
Loyola University New Orleans59% graduate$53k earnings$26k typical debt
Xavier University of Louisiana49% graduate$52k earnings$24k typical debt
Nunez Community College27% graduate$35k earnings$13k typical debt
Southern University at New Orleans13% graduate$34k earnings$31k typical debt
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Herzing University-New Orleans (11).
Majors
What students study in New Orleans
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across New Orleans’ 10 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Business 21%Health professions 15%Liberal arts 10%Biology 6%Psychology 6%Social sciences 5%Everything else 36%
Biggest programs
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingDelgado Community College · 293 graduates a year
$82k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management ServicesTulane University of Louisiana · 288 graduates a year
$130k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans · 236 graduates a year
$82k4 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesDelgado Community College · 223 graduates a year
$43k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsTulane University of Louisiana · 203 graduates a year
$96k4 yrs out
MarketingTulane University of Louisiana · 174 graduates a year
$99k4 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, OtherTulane University of Louisiana · 161 graduates a year
$71k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralXavier University of Louisiana · 145 graduates a year
$43k4 yrs out
College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.
Questions about college in New Orleans
Is New Orleans a college town?
No. About 8 of every 100 New Orleans residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Louisiana (6). The largest campus in the city, Tulane University of Louisiana, has 11,335 students on campus.
What colleges are in New Orleans?
Tulane University of Louisiana, Delgado Community College, the University of New Orleans, Loyola University New Orleans and 6 more are inside the city. Nunez Community College is 7 miles away in Chalmette.
What is the closest community college to New Orleans, and what does it cost?
Nunez Community College in Chalmette, 7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,255 a year for Louisiana residents; the federal net price, $12,529, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Southern University at New Orleans cost if we live in Louisiana?
Tuition and fees are $8,054 a year in-state and $16,954 from out of state.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of New Orleans. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →
Photo: George Bannister · CC BY 2.0