Online College Courses in Louisiana (LA)

Known for its jazz music, rich swampland, Cajun and Creole history, and Mardi Gras culture, Louisiana is home to more than 4.5 million people and 7,721 miles of coastline along America's Gulf Coast. Educational opportunities are abundant, as many of the state's colleges and universities offer continuing education and online college courses in Louisiana and to students across the country and even the world. The state's largest schools are Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, or LSU, in Baton Rouge, and Tulane University and the University of New Orleans in New Orleans. Though many things changed in Louisiana after the Gulf Coast was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, its colleges have continued to thrive and have come back stronger than ever.

New Orleans. Boasting a rich French culture, and with entertainment around every corner, New Orleans is also rich in educational opportunities, as many of the city's institutions offer online college courses for New Orleans residents and beyond. The city is home to more than 340,000 residents and growing quickly, but was home to nearly half a million residents prior to Hurricane Katrina.

• Delgado Community College. Delgado Community College is a two-year public institution that serves more than 18,000 students. It offers certificates and associate degrees in a variety of fields, and online courses in construction, graphic design, bank telling and home inspection.
• Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center- New Orleans. Part of the public Louisiana State University System, the health sciences center serves approximately 2,700 students in primarily two-year degree, certificate, and post-graduate programs. The school offers degrees in nursing, medicine, and allied health professions.
• Loyola University- New Orleans. This four-year private not-for-profit institution serves approximately 4,700 students on campus through bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs, and post-baccalaureate and post-master's certificate programs. It also offers online master's degree programs in pastoral studies, criminal justice administration, nursing, and religious education, and a doctor of nursing practice online program.
• New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. This four-year private not-for-profit institution serves nearly 3,000 students on campus, more than half of whom are post-baccalaureate students. The seminary offers several online degree and certificate programs in theology, such as coursework in women's ministry, and certificates in Hebrew studies, Greek studies, and Christian education.
• Our Lady of Holy Cross College. This four-year private not-for profit institution serves nearly 1,000 undergraduates and nearly 300 post-baccalaureate students. It began as a teaching college and now has expanded to offer several degree programs and certifications, including an online R.N. to B.S.N. nursing program, and online courses in tax accounting, economics, oceanography, and Catholicism.
• Southern University at New Orleans. A four-year public school located right on Lake Pontchartrain, Southern University at New Orleans offers associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees to more than 3,000 students, primarily undergraduate. The institution offers a variety of online degrees and courses, including political science, education, and communications.
• Tulane University of Louisiana. This private, four-year institution serves approximately 12,000 students in undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs across a variety of fields. Online courses at Tulane include courses in accounting, website development, business law, English, public relations, and Hindu religion and traditions.
• University of New Orleans. Serving more than 11,000 students along New Orleans' northern border, the University of New Orleans is a public, four-year institution offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, as well as post-baccalaureate certificates. Online courses are available in fields including anthropology, biology, education, German, and hospitality.

Baton Rouge. Baton Rouge is Louisiana's capital and its second largest city, with just fewer than 230,000 residents reported in the 2010 census. Home to several colleges and universities, seven public, private, and for-profit institutions offer online college courses in Baton Rouge.

• Baton Rouge Community College. This two-year public college serves more than 8,000 students on campus and many more online. It offers certificates and associate degrees in a variety of fields including accounting, veterinary technology, and fine arts. It also offers five tracks of the Louisiana Transfer Associate Degree, which guarantees that students who earn the designation will be a junior at any state school they transfer to.
• Capital Area Technical College- Baton Rouge Campus. This two-year public college serves nearly 4,000 students on campus. It offers online courses and continuing education in fields including business, technology, education, and writing and publishing.
• Court Reporting Institute of Louisiana. A tiny, for-profit institution, the CRIL serves fewer than 40 students on campus. It offers associate degrees and certificates, and offers an entire court reporting program online, which includes courses in court reporting theory, real-time court reporting, and medical and legal terminology.
• ITT Technical Institute- Baton Rouge. Located on the outskirts of Baton Rouge, the Louisiana campus of the four-year, for-profit institution serves just more than 600 students. The national institution offers two-year and four-year degrees as well as certifications in a variety of fields such as computer drafting and design.
• Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College. Known by its shorter name, Louisiana State University, LSU is a four-year public university that has granted more than 200,000 degrees in agriculture, education, engineering, and other fields since 1869. LSU serves approximately 30,000 students, to whom it offers for-credit online courses in accounting, and offers online certificates in various professional development programs, including Certified Financial Planning, non-profit management, and project management in information technology.
• Our Lady of the Lake College. In the heart of Baton Rouge, Our Lady of the Lake College serves primarily undergraduate students but also offers master's degrees and post-baccalaureate certificates to nearly 2,000 students. It is a Catholic college that focuses on health care professions and programs, but also offers degrees in forensic science, liberal arts, sociology, and religious studies.
• Southern University and A&M College. Serving just fewer than 7,000 students, primarily undergraduate, Southern offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, and post-master's certificates in a variety of fields. Online learning opportunities are available through single courses, but the school is expanding its program to feature online degrees.

Shreveport. Home to nearly 200,000 people, Shreveport is located near the state's border with Texas and Arkansas. Being the largest city in the state's northern half, educational opportunities abound, as institutions offer many online college courses in Shreveport in a variety of fields and degree programs.

• Louisiana State University- Shreveport. The Shreveport campus of the four-year public institution serves nearly 5,000 students in bachelor's, master's, and post-master's certificate programs. Named Louisiana's most affordable college by the Department of Education, LSU- Shreveport offers online courses in web graphics, foreign languages, accounting, nutrition, and other fields. LSU-Shreveport also offers an online certificate in social media for business.
• Southern University at Shreveport. Southern University at Shreveport is a two-year public institution that serves nearly 3,000 students. It offers certificates and two-year degrees, as well as continuing education opportunities through online courses in computer repair, networking, accounting, and hotel and restaurant management.