Cheapest Political Science and Government Colleges in Louisiana

Louisiana State University-Shreveport offers the most affordable Political Science and Government program in Louisiana at just $8,130 net cost annually. This price advantage over private competitors becomes dramatic when compared to Centenary College's $25,159 price tag. The state's 16 programs span a wide cost spectrum, with graduation rates ranging from 28.50% at Southern University to 71.00% at LSU's main campus. Louisiana's unique political market, shaped by its oil industry and Mississippi River commerce, creates abundant internship opportunities in state government, lobbying firms, and regulatory agencies. The TOPS scholarship program makes public universities even more accessible for qualifying residents, covering full tuition at institutions like McNeese State University and Nicholls State University. With eight public universities charging less than $15,000 annually, students can pursue political science education without accumulating substantial debt while gaining exposure to Louisiana's distinctive blend of energy policy, environmental regulation, and port authority governance.

Programs

$8,130 – $43,939

Net Price Range

$29,095

Avg. Program Earnings

51.9%

Avg. Graduation Rate

16 Political Science and Government Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Louisiana State University-Shreveport Shreveport, Louisiana	$8,130	$7,327	33.2%	88.9%
2	University of New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana	$11,147	$9,172	42.5%	69.8%
3	McNeese State University Lake Charles, Louisiana	$11,257	$8,460	52.0%	71.2%
4	University of Louisiana at Monroe Monroe, Louisiana	$11,633	$9,190	50.6%	70.1%
5	Nicholls State University Thibodaux, Louisiana	$12,091	$8,173	54.3%	98.4%
6	Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond, Louisiana	$12,174	$8,373	44.8%	99.0%
7	Louisiana Tech University Ruston, Louisiana	$12,209	$10,125	57.6%	62.4%
8	University of Louisiana at Lafayette Lafayette, Louisiana	$14,118	$10,418	52.0%	74.6%
9	Xavier University of Louisiana New Orleans, Louisiana	$18,285	$27,868	50.2%	95.2%
10	Dillard University New Orleans, Louisiana	$18,553	$22,194	45.1%	79.9%
11	Grambling State University Grambling, Louisiana	$19,125	$7,683	32.3%	42.4%
12	Southern University and A & M College Baton Rouge, Louisiana	$19,740	$9,940	28.5%	53.9%
13	Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, Louisiana	$20,015	$11,954	71.0%	75.7%
14	Loyola University New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana	$22,762	$47,240	67.4%	78.1%
15	Centenary College of Louisiana Shreveport, Louisiana	$25,159	$40,000	59.3%	63.7%
16	Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, Louisiana	$43,939	$65,538	88.9%	11.5%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Louisiana State University-Shreveport the cheapest option for political science?

LSU-Shreveport charges only $8,130 in net costs annually, nearly $3,000 less than the next cheapest option. The school maintains an 88.91% acceptance rate, making admission accessible to most applicants. Despite the low cost, students gain access to Louisiana's capital region internship network through the LSU system connections.

How do graduation rates compare between the most and least expensive programs?

Centenary College, the most expensive at $25,159 annually, achieves a 59.30% graduation rate. Meanwhile, LSU-Shreveport at $8,130 graduates 33.20% of students, showing that higher costs don't always guarantee better completion rates. LSU's main campus combines reasonable costs ($20,015) with the state's highest graduation rate at 71.00%.

Does the TOPS scholarship significantly reduce costs at Louisiana public universities?

TOPS covers full tuition at public universities, making schools like Grambling State particularly attractive with only $7,683 in-state tuition before the scholarship. Even without TOPS, public universities like McNeese State charge just $8,460 in-state tuition. The scholarship transforms already affordable education into nearly free college for qualifying Louisiana residents.

Where do political science graduates find the best earning potential in Louisiana?

University of New Orleans graduates earn $32,569 annually, the highest reported among Louisiana political science programs. LSU's main campus graduates earn $32,213, while Loyola and Southeastern Louisiana graduates both earn $25,194. The oil and gas industry's regulatory needs, combined with Louisiana's active port authorities, create steady demand for policy-oriented graduates.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.