Louisiana Tech University is a public research university in Ruston, Louisiana, with 11,873 students (10,881 of them undergraduates) in fall 2024. Its biggest strengths are low in-state costs, strong engineering and cyber programs, and a solid first-year retention rate; its main drawbacks are a small-town location, a fairly high student-to-faculty ratio and a four-year graduation rate below half.
Below are the pros and cons in detail, followed by cost, outcomes and accreditation figures taken from the federal College Navigator database, so you can judge whether Louisiana Tech is a good school for you.
Louisiana Tech University at a Glance
- Type: 4-year public university, part of the University of Louisiana System.
- Location: Ruston, Louisiana, classified by the Department of Education as “Town: Distant”.
- Founded: 1894, as the Industrial Institute and College of Louisiana; it took the name Louisiana Tech University in 1970.
- Research status: Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity (R2).
- Enrollment (fall 2024): 11,873 total, 10,881 undergraduate, 992 graduate.
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 21 to 1.
- Admission: 86% of 8,491 applicants were admitted for fall 2024.
Pros: What Louisiana Tech University Does Well
- Low in-state price. Tuition and fees for in-state undergraduates were $10,125 in 2024-2025. The average net price for full-time beginning students who received grant aid was $12,325 in 2023-2024, and for families earning $0-$30,000 it was $7,676.
- Most freshmen receive aid. In 2023-2024, 97% of full-time beginning undergraduates received some form of financial aid and 95% received grants or scholarships, averaging $12,149. State or local government grants reached 76% of that group.
- Engineering and cyber strengths. The College of Engineering and Science offers seven engineering degrees, and Louisiana Tech launched the nation’s first cyber engineering BS degree in 2012. Its College of Business, home to the Center for Information Assurance, is designated by the NSA and the Department of Homeland Security as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Research and Education.
- Specialised programs you rarely find at a school this size. Students can study professional aviation, nanosystems engineering and biomedical engineering, and the university awards doctorates in areas such as audiology, counseling psychology and engineering.
- Good first-year retention. 82% of full-time students who began in fall 2023 returned in fall 2024, which suggests most freshmen settle in and stay.
- Campus life and Division I sports. Louisiana Tech has more than 163 student organizations, approximately 20 Greek organizations and 16 varsity NCAA Division I teams. The Lady Techsters basketball program won national titles in 1981, 1982 and 1988.
Cons: What to Weigh Before You Enroll at Louisiana Tech
- Small-town setting. Ruston is classified as a distant town. Students who want a big-city internship market, nightlife or public transit will find less of it than at a metro campus, and many will need a car.
- Fewer students finish in four years. Of full-time freshmen who started a bachelor’s degree in fall 2018, 44% graduated within four years and 62% within six. Plan your budget for the possibility of a fifth year.
- Larger classes on paper. A 21 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio is higher than at many public universities, so some introductory courses can feel crowded.
- Out-of-state students pay more. Non-residents paid $16,866 in tuition and fees in 2024-2025, and they are less likely to qualify for the state grants that most Louisiana freshmen receive. 80% of first-time undergraduates are Louisiana residents.
- Housing adds a lot to the bill. On-campus food and housing was estimated at $9,618 for 2024-2025, which is almost as much as in-state tuition. The total estimated in-state on-campus cost was $24,936.
What Louisiana Tech Costs: Tuition, Housing and Net Price
| Item (2024-2025 unless noted) | Amount |
|---|---|
| In-state tuition and fees | $10,125 |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $16,866 |
| On-campus food and housing | $9,618 |
| Total in-state cost, living on campus | $24,936 |
| Total out-of-state cost, living on campus | $31,677 |
| Average net price (2023-2024) | $12,325 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants. Because it rises with income ($7,676 for the lowest band and $16,207 for families earning over $110,000 in 2023-2024), use the university’s net price calculator with your own figures before you compare offers.
Is Louisiana Tech University a Good School? What the Numbers Say
For a Louisiana resident who wants engineering, computer science, cyber, business or aviation at a low price, Louisiana Tech is a good school. It is an R2 research university, its in-state net price is modest, and 82% of freshmen return for a second year.
The weaker numbers are completion speed and setting. The overall graduation rate for the fall 2018 cohort was 64%, with a further 10% transferring out, and fewer than half finished a bachelor’s degree in four years. Students who need a large city around them, or who would pay out-of-state rates without scholarships, should compare it carefully with alternatives.
Who Accredits Louisiana Tech University?
Yes. Louisiana Tech is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), with accreditation dating from 1927 and a next review listed for 2031. Individual programs also hold programmatic accreditation, including nursing, dietetics, audiology, speech-language pathology and counseling psychology. Students using federal aid can confirm this status in the Department of Education’s accreditation database.
Who Louisiana Tech Suits, and Who Should Look Elsewhere
A good fit for: Louisiana students eligible for state grants; students aiming for engineering, cyber engineering or professional aviation; and students who like a traditional residential campus with Division I sports and Greek life.
Worth a second look elsewhere if: you want a big-city campus, small seminar-style classes throughout, or you are an out-of-state student without a scholarship offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Louisiana Tech hard to get into? Not especially. It admitted 86% of applicants for fall 2024, and the median ACT composite of enrolled freshmen was 24.
- Where is Louisiana Tech University? In Ruston, in north Louisiana.
- Is Louisiana Tech a research university? Yes, it is classified as a doctoral university with high research activity (R2).
- Does Louisiana Tech have on-campus housing? Yes. On-campus food and housing was estimated at $9,618 for 2024-2025.