10 Best Public Health Bachelor's Degree Schools in Louisiana

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Between the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico lies the lowland state of Louisiana.

Here, people come from far and wide to sample traditional local cuisine and take part in the fun of Mardi Gras.

Those who are from Louisiana may be ready to expand their horizons and begin an education in one of the many public or private schools throughout the state.

If you are looking to find the perfect school for Public Health, look no further than our top ten list of the best schools for people in search of this Bachelors degree.

Along with some great out of state schools, the Louisiana institutions will take you from Lake Charles to New Orleans and everywhere in between.

Get ready to take charge of your future and find a fantastic school that will fulfill all of your educational needs right here.

1McNeese State University

Programs Offered:
On-Campus
Online

We will start off our list of great Louisiana schools with McNeese State University located in Lake Charles, where you can receive an individualized education on this small campus.

McNeese State University has been a staple in this town for over 75 years, and people from all around come to enjoy the education here.

Currently, a little over 5,800 students attend this university per year, which is just enough to create an intimate and small town feel that brings people together on campus.

Along with several other undergraduate degrees, the Public Health degree at McNeese State University is a four year program that keeps you wanting to learn more.

You will never get bored with the interesting and inclusive courses available at McNeese State University.

Not only will you be in small classes like math and English, but you will take more specialized courses such as:

  • Global Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Health Systems Management
  • Healthcare Law

One of the great things about this school is that students are welcome to take their courses online, which means you can stay home and study if that is more your style.

Along with classroom time, it is important to take part in an internship, even if you are doing your classwork online, so that you can gain hands-on knowledge.

It should take four years to complete this degree program, which is 120 credit hours of classes, and then you’ll be ready to take on the real world in careers like:

  • Biometric Health Screener
  • Cancer Information Specialist
  • Drug Trial Specialist
  • Contact Tracer

Enrollment

There are two ways to apply for McNeese University, first is the online option and the other is the in-person education program.

Either way you decide to earn your degree, you’ll need to fill out the application on the school’s website.

Everyone is welcome to apply here, from freshman, to transfer, returning, military, and adult students.

There are some criteria that you must meet in order to be eligible for admission here, and these are:

  • Minimum 2.35 GPA
  • Minimum ACT score of 20 or SAT score of 1030

If you meet these criteria, then you are on your way to becoming a part of this great community.

Along with your application you should submit your transcript and test scores so that all relevant information is ready to go.

It should take about two weeks to hear back from the school about the status of your application.

Fees

Students who are from Louisiana will pay $9,000 a year to attend McNeese State University, that means the total after four years of edition is $36,000.

If you are from out of state, you will pay $10,000 per year, or a total of $40,000 upon graduation.

Meal plans and housing will add up to $11,188 per year, for a total of $44,752 upon graduation if you use it for the four years required for a Bachelors degree.

Books will cost about $1,000 a year and health insurance is $500 per year at McNeese State University.

Contact Information

  • Address: 4205 Ryan St. Lake Charles, LA 70605
  • Phone: 800-622-3352
  • Website: www.mcneese.edu

2University of New Orleans

Programs Offered:
On-Campus

The University of New Orleans has been around since 1958 and is a small public school right in the middle of busy city.

The high quality education is the main reason that students flock to this incredibly innovative school.

Along with that, the diversity of the scholars here is another reason for the accolades as well as the ranking in the top 1,000 of universities worldwide by the Center for World University Rankings.

If that is not enough to get you to check out the University of New Orleans, then maybe you’ll like the fact that they have an awesome Public Health Bachelors degree program.

Those who want to enhance community wellness as well as the health of individuals will find this a very interesting and informative program.

The Public Health Bachelors degree is a four year stint and should include 120 credit hours of classes, which will include titles like:

  • Global Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Biology
  • Public Health in a Changing World

Every class that is dedicated to Public Health at the University of New Orleans is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission so you know everything that you learn is up to date and relevant.

After learning skills to develop and implement health promotion in communities around the world, you will be able to take your knowledge into the real world and obtain a massively important career.

Public Health is becoming more and more popular as of the last several years, and with a degree from the University of New Orleans you could see yourself in roles including:

  • Industrial Hygienist
  • Healthcare Social Worker
  • Nonprofit Organization Educator
  • Nutritionist

Enrollment

Admissions at the University of New Orleans starts with a campus tour, this way you’ll know if the school is the right fit for you.

Once you have decided on learning here, you will want to go to the website to fill out the simple application.

The University of New Orleans does have some criteria you’ll need to meet in order to be considered for enrollment, and that includes:

  • At least a 2.0 GPA
  • SAT score of at least 1140 or ACT score of at least 23

If this sounds like you, then you will likely be accepted at this school.

Consider adding the following documents along with your application to ensure enrollment:

  • Transcripts from high school or previous education
  • ACT or SAT scores

You may want to contact an academic advisor and set up a meeting to get to know some of the faculty once you apply.

It may take a couple of weeks to hear back on the status of your application.

Fees

At The University of New Orleans, Louisiana residents will pay $9,454 per year to attend.

With housing and meal plans included, that total goes up to $20,614  per year.

This means that as a Louisiana resident, you will pay between $37,816 and $82,456 to attend this school.

Now, for those who decide they want to attend this school but are from another state, the average tuition without housing and meal plans is $14,290 per year.

If you plan to use the meal and housing amenities, that total goes up to $25,450 per year.

This means that you will pay between $57,160 and $101,800 after four years of education.

Books will cost about $1,428 per year.

There are many scholarships and financial aid opportunities available for students at the University of New Orleans.

Contact Information

  • Address: 2000 Lakeshore Dr. New Orleans, LA 70148
  • Phone: 504-280-6000
  • Website: www.uno.edu

3Xavier University

Programs Offered:
On-Campus

Don’t let the size of Xavier University fool you, it is a nationally recognized leader in STEm and health sciences, despite only having about 3,500 students attending each year.

Located in New Orleans, this small public school is perfect for people who want an intimate education where the professors know your name.

You’ll find some incredible Bachelors degree programs here, including the Public Health path that is given by the Department of Public Health Sciences.

Students will need to maintain a C in all of their classes in order to stay in the Public Health Bachelors program, which should be easy with classes like:

  • Health Promotion Program Planning and Evaluation
  • Global Health
  • Behavioral Theories
  • Research Methods

You won’t just be spending time in a classroom here, you’ll have many opportunities to perform research both student led and with faculty.

Along with that, you’ll want to take on an internship during your senior year to showcase all that you have learned through hands-on knowledge in real world scenarios.

After completing the required education, you’ll be ready to take on the healthcare field in roles such as:

  • Health Coach
  • Cultural Competency Trainer
  • Health Journalist
  • Curriculum Development Specialist

Enrollment

Enrolling at Xavier University is fairly simple, first, you’ll need to go to the website and find the application under the admissions tab.

Then, you’ll just need to fill out your personal information including:

  • Transcripts from high school or previous education
  • SAT or ACT scores
  • Essay

All types of students are welcome to apply to Xavier University, including first year, transfer, and students from other countries.

Once you have completed all of the important information, you will likely wait a week or two to hear back from an academic advisor about the status of your application.

After you have been accepted, you’ll want to attend orientation and then you’ll get to pick your classes and begin learning.

Fees

At Xavier University, all students will pay a yearly tuition fee of $24,836.

Since it takes about four years to finish a degree from this school, most graduates will have a bill of at least $99,344.

For those who want to use housing and meal plans, the total yearly cost is about $12,000 for a four year total of $48,000.

Other fees that may apply per year include:

  • Health insurance – $1,856
  • Technology – $414
  • New student orientation – $150

Financial aid and scholarships are available for qualified students here.

Contact Information

  • Address: 1 Drexel Dr. New Orleans, LA 70125
  • Phone: 504-486-7411
  • Website: www.xula.edu

4Louisiana State University-Shreveport

Programs Offered:
On-Campus

Louisiana State University in Shreveport is in the top 50 public schools nominated by U.S. News and World Report.

You’ll have a blast at this small campus right in Shreveport, Louisiana, where you can find people with your same interest as well as a diverse student body.

With just about 2,500 students enrolled each year, you will find that small classes and close knit faculty help you along your journey to finding your dream career.

Several degree programs are available here, just over 20, and students from all walks of life are welcome to enjoy the benefits of this small college.

One of the degrees that are perfect for people who love healthcare and want to make the world a better place through research and science is the Public Health degree.

A typical Bachelors degree will require a four year commitment, and the one here is no different.

Experiential learning is at the forefront of this degree, and you’ll take on comprehensive classes such as:

  • Environmental Health Problem Prevention
  • Epidemic Diseases
  • Community Health
  • Media Literacy

There are so many things to learn and with concentrations from health behavior to exercise science, the Public Health program will cover all your bases.

After completing the requirements for graduation, you will be prepared for a career in healthcare that helps others with preventing and eliminating disease and keeping themselves healthy like:

  • Program Resource Coordinator
  • Diabetes Educator
  • Clinical Research Specialist
  • Wellness Consultant

Enrollment

Louisiana State University in Shreveport welcomes first year freshman, transfer students, and international learners to apply through the online application.

All you will need to do is go to the school’s website to find any of the applications you will need to get started.

In order to be considered for admission at Louisiana State University in Shreveport, you will have to have at least a 2.0 GPA from high school or your previous education.

 Along with your application, you will want to provide the following information:

  • SAT or ACT scores
  • Transcripts from high school or other universities

Once you have turned in all of that required information, you will be on your way to orientation and enrolling in classes.

Fees

Students who are from the state of Louisiana will pay $7,326 per year to attend Louisiana State University in Shreveport.

If you are an out of state resident, you can still attend this school, but will pay a higher tuition of $20,480 per year.

Since it does take four years to complete a degree from this university, students from in state will pay a total of $29,304 for a college education while out of state learners will end up paying $81,920.

There are plenty of scholarships and financial aid opportunities for students at this school.

Contact Information

  • Address: One University Place Shreveport, LA 71115
  • Phone: 800-229-5957
  • Website: www.lsus.edu

5Dillard University

Programs Offered:
On-Campus

Another New Orleans based school goes by the name of Dillard University, a private school founded in 1869.

This tiny school has an urban campus right in the middle of New Orleans, where students are welcome to come and go as they please to enjoy the city.

There are about 1,200 students that roam the halls each semester and only 22 majors to choose from here.

One of the few programs that Dillard University offers is in Public Health.

This Bachelors degree program is four years long and provides students with knowledge to help keep communities and individuals healthy and safe.

You will learn practices to create and implement health programs as well as work in the field in order to gain access to real world scenarios and knowledge.

Dillard University has three concentrations for Public Health:

  • Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
  • Healthcare Administration and System Management
  • Population and Health Sciences

Each concentration will have individualized requirements but most of the classes that are necessary to take will be based in biology and sociology, such as:

  • Behavioral Health
  • Population Health Challenges
  • Principles of Environmental Health
  • Research Methodology

You will need to take a total of 120 credit hours to complete a degree at Dillard University.

After successfully passing all of the required classes and electives, you will be ready to graduate and take on a new career in Public Health like:

  • Education Director
  • Health Program Advocate
  • Health Information Specialist
  • Department Planner

Enrollment

Head over to the website to apply directly online in order to become a part of Dillard University.

Prospective students will need to fill out their personal information in order to begin the enrollment process.

It is required to create an account in order to begin your application, but then you will be able to come back and finish if you need to leave for any reason.

Along with your personal information, you will want to include the following documents:

  • ACT or SAT scores
  • Transcripts from high school or previous universities

You may want to sign up for a campus tour as well, to get the feel of the campus and student life at Dillard University.

An academic advisor will get in contact you via email or phone once a decision about your enrollment has been made.

Fees

Full time students will need to pay a base tuition of $19,194 per year to attend Dillard University.

For those who also want to include room and board in those prices, that will be an additional $11,337 per year.

This means that a Dillard University graduate will pay between $76,776 and $122,124 for their degree.

Books and supplies will be an additional $1,300 per year and transportation will be around $3,000.

All students will have the capability of receiving some form of financial aid to help with the costs of tuition.

Contact Information

  • Address: 2601 Gentilly Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70122
  • Phone: 504-283-8822
  • Website: www.dillard.edu

6Southeastern Louisiana University

Programs Offered:
On-Campus

Hammond, Louisiana is where you’ll want to be if you plan to attend Southeastern Louisiana University.

This public school was founded in 1925, and after almost 100 years it has grown to enroll nearly 13,000 students per year.

The beautiful stone lit campus will have you in awe as you find your way around the rural 365 acres.

You’ll have the luxury of finding several programs available to you on the undergraduate level at Southeastern Louisiana University.

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences provides a great Public Health program that awards a Bachelors degree after four years of study.

The comprehensive and interactive courses that you will be required to attend in order to graduate include:

  • Chronic Disease Prevention
  • Global Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Community and Population Health

Along with classes, students are welcome to join a club or organization to share their knowledge with other classmates, especially in the Kinesiology and Health Studies Club.

Once you have completed all of your required coursework, it is time to graduate and move on to a successful lifelong career.

Public Health has become an integral part of the healthcare system, and graduates of this program will have access to many new and important careers like:

  • Chronic Disease Health Coach
  • Population Health Manager
  • Patient Navigator
  • Health Scribe

Enrollment

At Southeastern Louisiana University, you can apply directly on the website in as little as thirty minutes.

You can apply as a freshman, transfer student, international student, and much more.

Just find your specific application and begin the process of filling out your personal information.

In order to complete your application, you will need to include:

  • Transcripts from high school or previous education
  • ACT or SAT scores

Completing all of this information and submitting it on the website is the first step.

Then, you will need to wait to hear back from an academic advisor about the status of your enrollment, which may take a week or two.

At that time, you will be able to sign up for orientation and get started on selecting classes for your first semester at Southeastern Louisiana University.

Fees

Residents of Louisiana will pay $4,597 per year to attend this school, and since it takes four years to complete a degree, that total comes out to $18,388.

Those who are not residents of this state but want to attend this school will pay $10,836 per year or $43,344 for a Bachelors degree.

These prices do not include room and board, which can be discussed with an academic advisor as the costs change frequently.

Financial aid and scholarships are available to help offset the costs of education at Southeastern Louisiana University.

Contact Information

  • Address: 500 West University Ave. Hammond, LA 70402
  • Phone: 985-549-2000
  • Website: www.southeastern.edu

7Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge

Programs Offered:
On-Campus
Online

As one of 24 space grant universities in the country, Louisiana State University n Baton Rouge is very unique.

One of the other great aspects of this school is that students are welcome to take both online and on-campus classes to fulfill degree requirements.

This flagship school is important to the state of Louisiana and you could be one of the 35,000 students who study here annually.

Expect to gain your knowledge through research, lab work, and hands on opportunities on campus as well as locally especially if you plan to work in the Public Health Bachelors degree program.

This program will allow you to study science and sociology in courses including:

  • Biology
  • Kinesiology
  • Environmental Science and Research
  • Epidemiology

Students in this program will need to have and maintain a 2.5 GPA throughout the entire four year path.

Having good grades and completing all of the 120 credit hours will help you get into a Public Health career once you graduate such as:

  • Global Health Consultant
  • Hospice Home Educator
  • Medial Supply Sales Representative
  • Wellness Programmer

Enrollment

Every kind of student is welcome to attend Louisiana State University.

If you consider yourself a first year freshman, transfer student, or even an international student you are welcome to apply to the Louisiana State University.

The easiest and fastest way to apply is through the website on the admissions page.

There is a $50 non-refundable application fee for all applicants.

Along with your application, it is important to include the following information:

  • Transcripts from high school or previous university
  • ACT or SAT scores
  • Letter of recommendation

Louisiana State University looks at all of you as a whole and not just your test scores to determine if you are fit for enrollment.

It should take about two weeks to hear back from the school about your application status.

Once you know you’ve been accepted, you can figure out the next steps, like freshman orientation or a campus tour.

Fees

Louisiana State University has a yearly tuition of $25,432 which includes room and board.

Sine it takes about four years to complete a degree, the total tuition cost would end up being $101,728.

For those who do not want to participate in room and board, the yearly fee is $11,954.

On average, this type of student would pay $47,816 in total tuition costs.

Financial aid and scholarships are available for all students.

Contact Information

  • Address: 1146 Pleasant Hall Baton Rouge, LA 70803
  • Phone: 225-578-1175
  • Website: www.lsu.edu

8Baylor University

Programs Offered:
On-Campus
Out-of-State

Baylor University in Waco, Texas will have you moving out of state for all the right reasons.

This Christian based school is a great place to find or keep your faith, but you won’t have to worry if you are not of the Christian faith as all backgrounds and walks of life are welcome here.

A private school with about 15,000 enrollees each year has tons of programs and extracurricular activities to look into.

One of the science based paths that some who want to enroll in a healthcare program may be interested in is the Public Health Bachelors degree.

This four year program requires 120 credit hours of science and evidence based curriculum to seek a degree, and these courses will include:

  • Human Anatomy
  • U.S. in the Global Perspective
  • Contemporary Social Issues
  • Microbiology

Louisiana residents will need to stick around in their senior year to take part in an internship that can be done locally in Texas at any healthcare facility or government agency.

Completing all of the requirements for graduation means that you are ready to head out into the real world to take on roles like:

  • Health Promotion Specialist
  • Outreach Coordinator
  • Treatment Adherence Educator
  • Community Organizer

Enrollment

If you are interested in attending Baylor University you will need to create an account before you can fill out your application.

First year freshman as well as transfer students are welcome to apply to this school and everything can be done online.

In order to be considered for admission to this university, the school looks for some of the following traits:

  • Excited and motivated
  • Enjoy being part of a community
  • Faith based
  • Academically enjoy challenging themselves

If this sounds like you, then Baylor University would love to have you apply for admission.

There are several deadlines throughout the year, so make sure that you don’t miss submission time.

Along with your application, you should submit the following information:

  • Transcripts from high school or previous education
  • GPA from high school or previous education
  • Essay
  • SAT or ACT scores

Even though these aren’t required for admission, Baylor University would still like to see your:

  • Resume
  • Letter of recommendation
  • Short answer responses provided by the website

After submitting your application an academic advisor will contact you within a week.

Fees

Annual tuition for Baylor University is $51,738 but adding housing and food will take that price up to $65,412 per year.

Most students at this school will get some type of financial aid, which can help reduce the cost of tuition.

It is also likely that you will receive scholarships, grants, and other financial opportunities will attending this school.

The average Bachelors degree taking about four years to complete, the total cost of tuition at Baylor University is $261,648 upon graduation.

Contact Information

  • Address: 1311 South 5th St. Waco, TX 76706
  • Phone: 800-229-5678
  • Website: www.baylor.edu

9University of Southern Mississippi

Programs Offered:
On-Campus
Online
Out-of-State

Louisiana residents will be in awe of the sprawling gorgeous campus located at the University of Southern Mississippi.

However, if you’d rather have an online experience, then that is perfect as well as there are online classes for many programs so that you can work right from home.

The University of Southern Mississippi is one of the leading research universities in the country, and students from all across the world head here to take part in the action.

Those who are interested in science and discovering new ways to work in healthcare will enjoy the Public Health Bachelors degree offered here.

There is a 98% approval rating throughout this program for internships with over 100 opportunities per year.

Students can lead conversations and work with classmates in courses such as:

  • Ethics and Good Living
  • Communicable and Chronic Diseases in Man
  • Behavioral Interventions
  • Workplace Health Promotion

Both online and in person students will need to take part in an internship to complete degree requirements.

Once all of the requirements are met, its time to get started in a great Public Health career like:

  • Integrative Health Practitioner
  • Worksite Safety Coordinator
  • Education Director
  • Health Promotion Programmer

Enrollment

Whether you are a first year freshman, transfer student, international, military or even an honors student, you are welcome to enroll at the University of Southern Mississippi.

It also doesn’t matter if you are from Mississippi or looking for a change of pace from another state, the university is looking forward to meeting you.

Consider heading to the website to fill out the simple application if you are interested in enrolling.

There are admission deadlines throughout the year, so you will want to keep up with them to make sure you get yours in on time.

For anyone applying, there is a $45 non-refundable fee that can be paid before submitting your application.

Not only that, but prospective students will be required to submit some information like:

  • Official high school transcript or previous university transcript
  • SAT or ACT scores (freshman applicants only)
  • Immunization records

It will take about two weeks to hear back on the decision from an academic advisor, but you can also check on the website to see if an update has been added to your account.

Fees

If you are from the state of Mississippi and plan to attend the University of Southern Mississippi full time, you will pay about $4,670 per semester.

In total, students from Mississippi will pay $37,360 once they have completed four years of school.

If you are from out of state or another country you will pay $5,670 per semester.

Which adds up to $45,360 upon completion of your Bachelors degree.

Depending on the type of housing on campus, students can pay between $1,850 and $3,712 per semester.

Meal plans are also available for students at a range of $2,225 and $2,350 per semester.

Contact Information

  • Address: 118 College Dr. Hattiesburg, MS 39406
  • Phone: 601-266-1000
  • Website: www.usm.edu

10University of Central Arkansas

Programs Offered:
On-Campus
Out-of-State

Arkansas has an incredible program for those who want to study healthcare fields at the University of Central Arkansas.

This is another public school that you will need to move to in order to complete all of the requirements, as there are no online classes at this time.

This premier learning-focused school is ready to take you under its wing and help you explore yourself and your surroundings.

One of the hundreds of degrees available here is the Public Health Bachelors degree.

You will take on courses in biology, chemistry, math, sociology, and much more throughout your four years here.

Expect to take on more specialized courses in healthcare and sciences such as:

  • Health Promotion Methods and Materials
  • Disease Management
  • Epidemiological Research
  • Program Planning and Evaluation

The University of Central Arkansas also provides students the opportunity to take elective courses that will help with their degree like:

  • First Aid
  • Mental Health
  • Drug Education
  • Health Concerns of Aging

During your senior year at this school you will need to take part in an internship that will help showcase all of the things that you have learned in the classroom and lab.

This can be done through community health centers, local healthcare facilities and even government agencies.

Graduation will be right around the corner, and after that you will be able to secure a role in Public Health in any of the following roles and much more:

  • Health Education Programmer
  • Clinical Research Coordinator
  • Head Start Health Specialist
  • Health Media Director

Enrollment

All types of students are welcome to attend the University of Central Arkansas from first year freshman to transfer students and even people who have already gone to college and want to return.

The only thing that you will need to do is submit a $25 non-refundable fee to fill out your application online and then you can start filling out your information.

Some of the important information that you will need to add along with your application includes:

  • Transcripts from high school or previous college education
  • SAT or ACT scores

It should take anywhere from one to two weeks to hear back from an academic advisor about the status of your application.

The school admits students on a rolling basis, so there are plenty of times per year for you to begin your attendance at the University of Central Arkansas.

Fees

In state residents of Arkansas will pay $4,889 per semester and after four years that total comes out to be $29,112.

If you are a student from another state, you will pay $8,363 per semester for a total of $66,904 upon graduation.

Online students will pay $5,230 per semester and average about $41,840 to earn a Bachelors degree.

Students who stay on campus and take part in room and board will pay between $2,300 and $3,887 per semester for a room, and meal plans will cost up to $2,130 per semester.

Additional fees may apply and financial aid is available for qualified students.

Contact Information

  • Address: 201 Donaghey Ave. Conway, AR 72035
  • Phone: 501-450-5000
  • Website: www.uca.edu

Final Thoughts

You will find your fair share of great choices for schools in Louisiana that have Public Health Bachelors degrees available.

We hope this list has helped you narrow down your options and given you a chance to decide where you want to begin your future career.

Jamie Willis
Career Specialist at BecomeopediaHi, my name is Jamie Willis, and I have been helping students find their perfect internships and education paths for the last ten years. It is a passion of mine, and there really is nothing better than seeing students of mine succeed with further studies.