Address: 3810 West Lakeshore Drive, 70808 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Energy Studies, Coastal Studies, Agriculture
Louisiana State University began as a state-chartered military seminary. The Louisiana legislature created the Seminary of Learning in 1853, and it opened near Pineville in 1860 with William Tecumseh Sherman as its first superintendent. The school closed during the Civil War, and after the old building burned in 1869 it resumed teaching in Baton Rouge, where it has remained. The name Louisiana State University was adopted in 1870.
A separate Agricultural and Mechanical College was established in 1874 to carry out the federal Morrill Act, and it merged with LSU in 1877, which makes the university a land-grant institution. LSU was designated a sea-grant college in 1978 and also holds space-grant status. In Baton Rouge the university system includes the Paul M. Hebert Law Center, the LSU Agricultural Center and the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.
Among its research facilities is the J. Bennett Johnston, Sr. Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices (CAMD), which operates a synchrotron radiation facility. The sea-grant, land-grant and space-grant designations give the university a formal role in coastal, agricultural and aerospace-related work. Students and researchers who want current programmes, enrolment figures and fee schedules should consult the official LSU website.
Domains taught:
Agriculture, Chemistry, Ecology and Sustainability, Engineering, Life Sciences, Marine Science, Thermodynamics
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master, MBA
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Flagship land-grant university in Louisiana. Strong research in areas relevant to Louisiana’s coast and energy sector. Highly successful athletics programs.
Research:
A research university with strengths in energy research, coastal environmental science, agriculture, veterinary medicine, and chemistry.
Famous Alumnis:
Shaquille O’Neal, Hubert Humphrey, James Carville, John Kennedy Toole, Odell Beckham Jr.
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
7000
Current students***:
37000
Foreign students***:
5%
Cumulative former students***:
250000
Pros
Strong programs related to energy and coastal environment, major public university for Louisiana, passionate athletics fanbase and vibrant campus culture.
Cons
Located in a state with socio-economic challenges, some older facilities, humidity and hurricane risk.
Best For
Students interested in energy, coastal studies, agriculture, or engineering, often valuing a large public university with strong research in these areas and major college athletics in the Southeastern Conference.
University of Houston, public and based in Houston, shares LSU's emphasis on energy alongside health sciences and business.
Kingston hosts the public University of Rhode Island, whose oceanography, pharmacy and engineering programmes echo LSU's coastal interests.
University of Florida in Gainesville is a public institution with agriculture, engineering and health sciences among its main fields.
For marine and ocean research, the public University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu lists oceanography and astronomy.
Athens, Georgia, is home to the public University of Georgia, which lists journalism and public administration among its fields.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
In Canada, the University of Alberta in Edmonton is public and lists energy and environment among its fields.
Norway's University of Stavanger offers petroleum engineering and offshore technology as a public institution.
In England, the University of Southampton (public) lists ocean and earth science next to engineering.
Germany's public Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, in Kiel, focuses on marine sciences and nanoscience.
Russia's Kazan Federal University, a public institution, lists oil and gas, chemistry and physics.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
What was LSU called when it started?
It began as a state seminary of learning, established by the Louisiana legislature in 1853 and opened in 1860 near Pineville. The name Louisiana State University came into use in 1870.
Who ran the school at its opening?
William Tecumseh Sherman served as the first superintendent when the seminary opened in 1860. He left the post at the start of 1861, shortly before the Civil War closed the school.
How did the university end up in Baton Rouge?
After the Pineville building burned in 1869, the institution resumed work that year in Baton Rouge. It has stayed in that city ever since.
Which federal designations does LSU hold?
It is a land-grant university through the Agricultural and Mechanical College, which merged with it in 1877. LSU became a sea-grant college in 1978 and also has space-grant status.
Does LSU have a law school and medical research units?
The Paul M. Hebert Law Center is based in Baton Rouge. The Pennington Biomedical Research Center and the LSU Agricultural Center are also located there.
What research facilities stand out at LSU?
The Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices, named for J. Bennett Johnston, Sr., runs a synchrotron radiation facility. It serves researchers working in materials and related fields.
Where can applicants check costs and entry rules?
Tuition, deadlines and admission criteria are set each year and published on the official LSU website. Check the pages for your own level of study before applying.
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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