Accredited nursing programs in Louisiana
26 schools in Louisiana have at least one nursing program accredited by ACEN or CCNE: 16 BSN, 12 ADN, 1 LPN, 11 MSN programs. 2 hold both accreditors across their programs. For the bachelor’s degree, 12 of 16 listings are CCNE and 4 are ACEN.
- Bachelor's programs
- 16
- 4 ACEN, 12 CCNE
- Associate programs
- 12
- 12 ACEN, 0 CCNE
- Practical programs
- 1
- 1 ACEN, 0 CCNE
- Master's programs
- 11
- 2 ACEN, 9 CCNE
Accredited schools in Louisiana
| School | City | Type | BSN | ADN | LPN | MSN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge Community College | Baton Rouge | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Bossier Parish Community College | Bossier City | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Delgado Community College | New Orleans | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Dillard University | New Orleans | Private | ACEN | – | – | – |
| Fletcher Technical Community College | Schriever | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University | Baton Rouge | Private | ACEN | – | – | ACEN |
| Grambling State University | Grambling | Public | CCNE | – | – | ACEN |
| Herzing University-New Orleans | Metairie | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Louisiana Christian University | Pineville | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Louisiana Delta Community College | Monroe | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Louisiana State University at Alexandria | Alexandria | Public | ACEN | ACEN | – | – |
| Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans | New Orleans | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Louisiana State University-Eunice | Eunice | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Louisiana Tech University | Ruston | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Loyola University New Orleans | New Orleans | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| McNeese State University | Lake Charles | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Nicholls State University | Thibodaux | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Northwestern State University of Louisiana | Natchitoches | Public | CCNE | ACEN | – | CCNE |
| South Louisiana Community College | Lafayette | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Southeastern Louisiana University | Hammond | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Southern University and A & M College | Baton Rouge | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Southern University at Shreveport | Shreveport | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| SOWELA Technical Community College | Lake Charles | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| University of Holy Cross | New Orleans | Private | ACEN | – | – | – |
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette | Lafayette | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| University of Louisiana at Monroe | Monroe | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
Programs listed as accredited in the ACEN directory (opens in a new tab) and the CCNE directory (opens in a new tab), collected November 2026 and matched to schools by name and city. Programs in candidacy are not counted. A dash means no accredited program at that level was matched.
Programs with an ACEN note
ACEN publishes a note beside some listings. The wording below is ACEN’s own; open the listing for what it means for the program.
- Baton Rouge Community College, ADN: With Conditions. ACEN listing (opens in a new tab)
What accreditation means in Louisiana
Two separate approvals apply to a nursing program. The Louisiana board of nursing approves programs so their graduates can sit the NCLEX. Programmatic accreditation from ACEN or CCNE is voluntary and is judged by a national peer body.
Bachelor's programs are the most common accredited level here, with 16. For bachelor’s degrees, 16 of 17 schools reporting graduates to the federal government matched an accredited program (94%).
Common questions
How many nursing schools in Louisiana are accredited?
We matched 26 Louisiana schools to at least one accredited nursing program in the ACEN and CCNE directories: 16 BSN, 12 ADN, 1 LPN, 11 MSN. Schools with several programs appear once.
What is the difference between ACEN and CCNE?
ACEN accredits nursing programs at every level, from practical nursing to doctorates. CCNE accredits bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs. Both are recognized by the US Department of Education.
Do I need an accredited program to become a nurse in Louisiana?
Not always. The state board of nursing approves programs for licensure, and that is a separate approval from ACEN or CCNE accreditation. Accreditation still matters for transferring credits, federal and employer tuition benefits, and entry to graduate programs.
Are all Louisiana bachelor’s programs accredited?
16 of the 17 Louisiana schools that report nursing bachelor’s graduates to the federal government matched an accredited listing. A school that does not match may be new, may be listed under another name, or may lack accreditation, so check the accreditor’s own directory before you apply.