Source: IPEDS, as of September 29, 2026. Cost is resident tuition plus required fees, 2023-24.
Associate Degrees in Louisiana
16
Meet the Ranking Threshold
14
Median Resident Tuition and Fees
$4,281
With a Fully Online Option
11
General Studies Associate Degrees in Louisiana
General studies associate degrees in Louisiana are led by a technical community college that outscores three universities with higher graduation rates. Northshore Technical Community College in Lacombe has the highest score in the state at this level, 66.6, and ranks 62nd nationally on our list, on a 40% graduation rate, 91 degrees a year and $4,203 in resident tuition and fees, with the degree available online. Fourteen programs are ranked, and 2 more, at Louisiana Tech University and the University of Louisiana at Monroe, appear in the table of other programs. All 14 ranked programs are public.
The three universities on the list finish more students and cost far more. Nicholls State University in Thibodaux graduates 54%, the highest rate here, at $8,173 and scores 61.7. Northwestern State in Natchitoches graduates 43% at $8,864, the highest tuition and fees on the list, on 230 degrees, and McNeese State in Lake Charles graduates 47% at $8,460. The community and technical colleges charge from $4,079 at River Parishes in Gonzales to $4,283 at Bossier Parish, and only SOWELA Technical Community College, at 43%, matches a university graduation rate among them.
South Louisiana Community College in Lafayette awarded 232 degrees with a 30% graduation rate, Delgado in New Orleans 165 at 24%, LSU Eunice 140 at 19% and Bossier Parish 126 at 15%. Southern University at Shreveport graduates 10%, the lowest rate on the list, at $4,958. Nine of the 14 ranked programs are online.
The 14 Best General Studies Associate Degrees in Louisiana
The best general studies associate degrees in Louisiana are ranked below by their national score, from the national associate degree ranking. The number on each card is the program's place in Louisiana. Each needed at least 10 graduates in the latest year to be ranked.
1
Northshore Technical Community College
Louisiana
66.6- Public
- Fully Online Option
- College graduation rate
- 40%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $4,203 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 91
About the Program
Some 5,975 students attend Northshore Technical Community College, a public community college in Lacombe, Louisiana. During the most recent year on record it awarded 91 associate's degrees, a count at the 56th percentile for size. Its college-wide graduation rate is 40%, the 65th percentile, because the federal record tracks completion by institution. Every student pays $4,203 a year in tuition and fees, since the college sets one rate. The degree can be finished entirely online, which suits anyone who cannot move or stop working. What lifts it most is price, where it reaches the 79th percentile.
2
Nicholls State University
Louisiana
61.7- Public
- College graduation rate
- 54%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $8,173 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 81
About the Program
Nicholls State University is a public university in Thibodaux, Louisiana that enrolls 6,043 students. Some 81 associate's degrees were conferred in the last year on record, a bigger output than 52% of the programs ranked alongside it. Its college-wide graduation rate is 54%, the 89th percentile, because the federal record tracks completion by institution. Residents pay $8,173 a year in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay $9,266. Applicants are admitted at a rate of 91%, which leaves room for a rejection. What lifts it most is the graduation rate of its college, where it reaches the 89th percentile.
3
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Louisiana
59.9- Public
- Fully Online Option
- College graduation rate
- 43%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $8,864 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 230
About the Program
Natchitoches, Louisiana is home to Northwestern State University of Louisiana, a public university of 8,523 students. During the most recent year on record it awarded 230 associate's degrees, a count at the 78th percentile for size. Its college-wide graduation rate is 43%, the 74th percentile, because the federal record tracks completion by institution. Tuition and fees are $8,864 a year for residents and $19,652 for students from out of state, which makes it cheaper than 24% of programs at this level. Nothing in the degree requires attending in person, since it is offered fully online. About 93% of applicants are admitted, so an application is not a formality. On the number of degrees it awards it does best, reaching the 78th percentile.
4
SOWELA Technical Community College
Louisiana
59.9- Public
- College graduation rate
- 43%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $4,265 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 19
About the Program
SOWELA Technical Community College is a public community college in Lake Charles, Louisiana that enrolls 3,446 students. During the most recent year on record it awarded 19 associate's degrees, a count at the 15th percentile for size. Of the students who start at SOWELA Technical Community College, 43% graduate, and that beats 74 in every 100 institutions on this measure. Tuition and fees hold at $4,265 a year whichever state you come from. What lifts it most is price, where it reaches the 77th percentile.
5
South Louisiana Community College
Louisiana
58.3- Public
- Fully Online Option
- College graduation rate
- 30%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $4,210 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 232
About the Program
South Louisiana Community College is a public community college in Lafayette, Louisiana that enrolls 6,238 students. It conferred 232 associate's degrees in the latest reported year, which is more than 79% of the associate's programs ranked at this level. Of the students who start at South Louisiana Community College, 30% graduate, and that beats 33 in every 100 institutions on this measure. Every student pays $4,210 a year in tuition and fees, since the college sets one rate. Nothing in the degree requires attending in person, since it is offered fully online. Strongest of its measures is the number of degrees it awards, which lands at the 79th percentile.
6
McNeese State University
Louisiana
53.8- Public
- Fully Online Option
- College graduation rate
- 47%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $8,460 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 49
About the Program
Lake Charles, Louisiana is home to McNeese State University, a public university of 6,241 students. It conferred 49 associate's degrees in the latest reported year, which is more than 38% of the associate's programs ranked at this level. A 47% graduation rate puts the college at the 80th percentile, though that figure counts every student who started there and not this degree alone. Tuition and fees are $8,460 a year for residents and $9,960 for students from out of state, which makes it cheaper than 28% of programs at this level. The degree can be finished entirely online, which suits anyone who cannot move or stop working. Admission is selective enough to plan for, with 78% of applicants accepted. What lifts it most is the graduation rate of its college, where it reaches the 80th percentile.
7
Louisiana Delta Community College
Louisiana
50.1- Public
- College graduation rate
- 30%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $4,159 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 65
About the Program
Based in Monroe, Louisiana, Louisiana Delta Community College is a public community college with 3,463 students on its rolls. Some 65 associate's degrees were conferred in the last year on record, a bigger output than 45% of the programs ranked alongside it. A 30% graduation rate puts the college at the 33rd percentile, though that figure counts every student who started there and not this degree alone. Residents and nonresidents are both charged $4,159 a year in tuition and fees. Its strongest mark is price, at the 79th percentile.
8
Fletcher Technical Community College
Louisiana
49.1- Public
- Fully Online Option
- College graduation rate
- 30%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $4,219 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 56
About the Program
Based in Schriever, Louisiana, Fletcher Technical Community College is a public community college with 2,663 students on its rolls. It conferred 56 associate's degrees in the latest reported year, which is more than 42% of the associate's programs ranked at this level. A 30% graduation rate puts the college at the 33rd percentile, though that figure counts every student who started there and not this degree alone. Tuition and fees are $4,219 a year for every student, residents and nonresidents alike. Nothing in the degree requires attending in person, since it is offered fully online. Strongest of its measures is price, which lands at the 78th percentile.
9
Delgado Community College
Louisiana
48.5- Public
- Fully Online Option
- College graduation rate
- 24%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $4,279 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 165
About the Program
Some 12,712 students attend Delgado Community College, a public community college in New Orleans, Louisiana. It conferred 165 associate's degrees in the latest reported year, which is more than 71% of the associate's programs ranked at this level. Across the whole college, 24% of students finish, which is a higher rate than 17% of the institutions behind this list. Tuition and fees hold at $4,279 a year whichever state you come from. The degree can be finished entirely online, which suits anyone who cannot move or stop working. Strongest of its measures is price, which lands at the 77th percentile.
10
River Parishes Community College
Louisiana
44.5- Public
- Fully Online Option
- College graduation rate
- 30%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $4,079 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 25
About the Program
Some 2,597 students attend River Parishes Community College, a public community college in Gonzales, Louisiana. The program's last federal report shows 25 associate's degrees conferred, so it is larger than 21 in every 100 programs measured here. A 30% graduation rate puts the college at the 33rd percentile, though that figure counts every student who started there and not this degree alone. Residents and nonresidents are both charged $4,079 a year in tuition and fees. Because the full degree is offered online, it is open to students well outside the region. Its strongest mark is price, at the 81st percentile.
11
Nunez Community College
Louisiana
43.3- Public
- College graduation rate
- 27%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $4,255 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 49
About the Program
Chalmette, Louisiana is home to Nunez Community College, a public community college of 2,819 students. During the most recent year on record it awarded 49 associate's degrees, a count at the 38th percentile for size. A 27% graduation rate puts the college at the 24th percentile, though that figure counts every student who started there and not this degree alone. Residents and nonresidents are both charged $4,255 a year in tuition and fees. Strongest of its measures is price, which lands at the 77th percentile.
12
Bossier Parish Community College
Louisiana
40.4- Public
- Fully Online Option
- College graduation rate
- 15%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $4,283 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 126
About the Program
Bossier City, Louisiana is home to Bossier Parish Community College, a public community college of 5,561 students. It conferred 126 associate's degrees in the latest reported year, which is more than 66% of the associate's programs ranked at this level. Its college-wide graduation rate is 15%, the 2nd percentile, because the federal record tracks completion by institution. Tuition and fees are $4,283 a year for every student, residents and nonresidents alike. Because the full degree is offered online, it is open to students well outside the region. What lifts it most is price, where it reaches the 76th percentile.
13
Louisiana State University-Eunice
Louisiana
40.1- Public
- Fully Online Option
- College graduation rate
- 19%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $4,802 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 140
About the Program
Some 3,670 students attend Louisiana State University-Eunice, a public community college in Eunice, Louisiana. It conferred 140 associate's degrees in the latest reported year, which is more than 68% of the associate's programs ranked at this level. Across the whole college, 19% of students finish, which is a higher rate than 7% of the institutions behind this list. Tuition and fees run $4,802 a year in state against $10,166 out of state, so on price it sits at the 66th percentile. Nothing in the degree requires attending in person, since it is offered fully online. What lifts it most is the number of degrees it awards, where it reaches the 68th percentile.
14
Southern University at Shreveport
Louisiana
34.5- Public
- HBCU
- College graduation rate
- 10%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $4,958 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 107
About the Program
Shreveport, Louisiana is home to Southern University at Shreveport, a historically Black public community college of 2,951 students. During the most recent year on record it awarded 107 associate's degrees, a count at the 61st percentile for size. Its college-wide graduation rate is 10%, the 1st percentile, because the federal record tracks completion by institution. Every student pays $4,958 a year in tuition and fees, since the college sets one rate. On price it does best, reaching the 63rd percentile.
Other General Studies Associate Degrees in Louisiana
The other general studies associate degrees in Louisiana awarded fewer than 10 degrees in the latest year or did not report a figure the ranking uses, so they are listed here without a score. That says something about size and nothing on its own about quality.
| College | Degrees Awarded | Graduation Rate | Tuition and Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Tech University, Ruston | 3 | 64% | $10,125 |
| University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe | 1 | 54% | $9,190 |
Source: IPEDS, as of September 29, 2026. Graduation rate is the college's, for first-time, full-time students.
How Much Does a General Studies Associate Degree Cost in Louisiana?
A general studies associate degree in Louisiana costs $4,281 a year in resident tuition and required fees at the median of the state's 16 programs, and the nine community and technical colleges all land within $200 of one another, from $4,079 at River Parishes to $4,283 at Bossier Parish. LSU Eunice is $4,802 and Southern University at Shreveport $4,958. The three ranked universities charge about double: Nicholls State $8,173, McNeese State $8,460 and Northwestern State $8,864. The two programs in the other-programs table, at the University of Louisiana at Monroe and Louisiana Tech, list $9,190 and $10,125.
If you're 21 or older, the state program to ask about is the M.J. Foster Promise, which pays for qualified programs at two-year public colleges that lead to high-demand, high-wage jobs. You qualify with family income at or below 300% of the federal poverty guidelines, or six months unemployed or underemployed, and the award is $3,200 a year for a full-time student, capped at $6,400 over three years. That covers about three-quarters of a year at Northshore or Delgado. Qualified is the catch: ask the college whether its general studies associate is on the state's list.
Will a General Studies Associate Degree Transfer in Louisiana?
A general studies associate degree transfers in Louisiana course by course, with the general education core guaranteed, but the junior-standing guarantee belongs to two other degrees. Act 356 of 2009 set up a common core curriculum, statewide course numbering and two transfer associate degrees, the Associate of Arts Louisiana Transfer and the Associate of Science Louisiana Transfer. Finish one of those two and the state guarantees the transfer of all 60 hours of the general education core and junior standing when you enroll at the university.
The general studies associate sits one step behind that. The Board of Regents counts the Associate of General Studies among the non-applied associate degrees treated as transfer degrees, built on the 39-hour general education core every Louisiana bachelor's requires, and the Master Course Articulation Matrix guarantees every general education course transfers between all Louisiana public colleges and universities. Your core moves, and the university decides how anything outside it lands. Before you enroll at South Louisiana, Delgado or Northshore, ask whether the general studies track can be shaped into an AALT, because that is the version with the 60-hour guarantee.
Louisiana also writes reverse transfer into law: universities and community colleges must have reverse transfer agreements so credits earned at the university can finish the associate you left behind. Ask your community college registrar which universities it has one with.
What Do Jobs With a General Studies Associate Degree Pay in Louisiana?
Jobs open to a general studies associate degree in Louisiana pay the state medians below, from the May 2025 federal wage survey, with the national median beside each for comparison. Each row links to the salary guide for that job.
How to Choose a General Studies Associate Degree Program in Louisiana
Choosing a general studies associate degree program in Louisiana means deciding whether a university's graduation rate is worth a university's price. Nicholls State graduates 54% and Northshore graduates 40%, so the 54% comes at $8,173 and the 40% at $4,203. Among the two-year colleges, Northshore and SOWELA ($4,265, 43%) are the ones with graduation rates above 30%, and SOWELA is campus based. Treat LSU Eunice ($4,802) and Southern University at Shreveport ($4,958) with care, since they cost more than the technical colleges and come with 19% and 10% graduation rates.
If you plan to continue to a bachelor's, know that Louisiana's guarantee of junior standing attaches to the Associate of Arts and Associate of Science Louisiana Transfer degrees, so ask the college how its general studies associate relates to those two. Ask too whether the online version at Northshore, South Louisiana or Delgado runs every required course every term, and whether the college charges nonresidents the same rate, which most of the community colleges on this list do.
If you plan to finish a bachelor's in the state, the general studies bachelor's degrees in Louisiana have their own page.