“Louisiana's #1 ranked liberal arts college — a 200-year-old Methodist institution producing graduates who earn 53% above the national median.”
Centenary College of Louisiana is a private, Methodist-affiliated liberal arts college founded in 1825 — making it one of the oldest colleges in the Southern United States and the oldest college west of the Mississippi River. Located on a 65-acre campus in the Highland Historic District of Shreveport, Louisiana, Centenary is the highest-ranked liberal arts college in Louisiana by US News in 2026 (#143 nationally). With approximately 600 undergraduates and a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio, Centenary offers a personally engaged liberal arts experience grounded in 200 years of educational tradition and exceptional career outcomes. Centenary's curriculum emphasizes the integration of liberal arts and pre-professional preparation. The college's signature offerings include the Centenary in Paris program (every first-year student travels to Paris for a faculty-led course), the Trek Program (every student receives funding for an experiential learning trip), and strong programs in business, biology, education, music, and the natural sciences. The Hurley School of Music is recognized as one of the Southeast's strong music programs. Centenary's exceptional career outcomes are reflected in 10-year median graduate earnings of $52,500 — 53% higher than the national median — placing it among the top earning LACs in Louisiana and the South. Campus life at Centenary centers on the Gentlemen and Ladies (or Gents) community in NCAA Division III athletics through the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. Students live on campus in residence halls and themed living communities, with extensive opportunities for arts, Greek life, and community engagement throughout the historic Highland neighborhood and downtown Shreveport. The maroon and white school colors and Methodist heritage shape campus identity. With 100% of full-time students qualifying for scholarships and financial aid, Centenary makes its 200-year liberal arts tradition accessible to students from many backgrounds.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
National Universities
US News 2026
#1 Louisiana Liberal Arts College
US News 2026
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceEarly Action
Non-binding; priority scholarship review
Regular Decision
Standard application timeline
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$42,436
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Distinguished music program with conservatory-quality instruction in performance, composition, and music education.
Practical business education with strong placement in Shreveport-area employers and the broader South.
Strong programs in biology, chemistry, and pre-health pathways with active undergraduate research.
Programs in literature, history, philosophy, religion, psychology, and political science.
Teacher preparation and communication studies with strong career-readiness focus.
4 years
Every first-year student travels to Paris for a faculty-led course as part of Centenary's signature global engagement program — distinctive among small LACs.
4 years
Every Centenary student receives funding for an experiential learning trip — internship, research, or study away — built into the college's tuition model.
4 years
Distinguished music program with conservatory-quality instruction; one of the strongest small-college music programs in the South.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $41,200
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
