ALEXANDRIA, La. (WNTZ) – Louisiana State University of Alexandria has earned national recognition in the U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Colleges rankings, moving up three spots from last year to No. 14 among Top Public Regional Colleges in the South.

The annual rankings, now in their 41st year, evaluate nearly 1,700 colleges and universities nationwide using 17 measures of academic quality.

Within the Regional Colleges–South category, LSUA is one of 128 institutions spanning 12 states, including Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama and the Carolinas. Regional colleges are defined as schools primarily focused on undergraduate education, with fewer than 50% of degrees awarded in liberal arts.

“This recognition is a powerful reflection of LSUA’s mission to provide high-quality, affordable education that transforms lives,” Chancellor Paul Coreil said in a statement. “We are especially proud of the progress we’ve made in expanding access and ensuring student success. As the fastest-growing four-year university in Louisiana, LSUA continues to show that excellence, innovation, and a commitment to our students can drive results that rival the best in the South.”

U.S. News rankings place strong emphasis on outcomes, with more than half of each score determined by student success measures such as graduation and retention rates, post-graduate earnings, debt levels and success in advancing social mobility for Pell Grant and first-generation students. Other factors include faculty resources, academic reputation, financial resources and student selectivity.

LSUA was also named a Top Performer in Social Mobility, highlighting its success in enrolling and graduating a high percentage of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. According to U.S. News, these institutions “perform best on social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students awarded Pell Grants.”

University officials said the recognition affirms LSUA’s growing reputation for academic excellence, affordability and student-centered support. The ranking comes as public trust in higher education is beginning to rebound nationally.

By offering strong outcomes and innovative pathways, LSUA continues to attract record numbers of students while contributing to Louisiana’s workforce and community development.

For more information, visit www.explore.lsua.edu.