UL Lafayette Welcome Wall in front of Martin Hall

About Us

Get a more personal, deeper educational experience here.

We're among the top universities in the country — and the world — recognized for our impressive academic programs, research projects that make an impact, sustainability initiatives, and diversity and inclusion practices.

At a Glance

Big Opportunities

We're the second-largest university in the state and growing!

Close Community

We offer all of the opportunities of a large university with the comforts of a small, private institution.

Gift for Bringing People Together

Our unique culture creates a close community of scholars and friends.

Academic Overview

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Advance your undergraduate experience in one of our masters and doctoral programs.

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Our online degree and course offerings include 100% online and hybrid options.

Academic Excellence

UL Lafayette is known for exceptional programs. Some of our most notable and recognized programs include nursing, the sciences, engineering, the humanities, and architecture.

Campus by the Number

15,345

students enrolled Fall 2023

2,269

graduate students enrolled Fall 2022

450+

international students

Our students come from 70+ different countries and to all of them we say: You are welcome here.

Research for a Reason

Among the Top 10 in the U.S.

The National Science Foundation ranks us amoung the best universities for our percentage of research and development expenditures funded by business.

The Carnegie Foundation designates UL Lafayette as a “Research University with Very High Research Activity.” That puts UL Lafayette in the same category as Duke, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and Princeton.

One of 250 Universities worldwide in the National Academy of Inventors

This organization encourages and supports inventors working in academic settings.

students sitting outside having a conversation

Inclusive Excellence

UL Lafayette is all about inclusion. We strive to bring everyone to the same table.

And we’re always working to do better. Our Strategic Plan for Inclusive Excellence establishes an ambitious, measurable agenda for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in course offerings, hiring, student services, and community outreach.

Pillars of Our Values

UL Lafayette has earned the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award for five years in a row because of our programs, initiatives and efforts that promote equity and inclusion.

Top 16%

UL Lafayette as one of the best universities in the nation for social mobility and providing a “best bang for the buck” education.

#25 Most Eco-Friendly University in the U.S.

UL Lafayette was ranked No. 195 in the world and No. 25 in U.S. for eco-friendliness in 2019. Our commitment to sustainability stretches beyond waste reduction, planting trees, and environmentally-sound construction practices. We believe eco-friendly practices and programs benefit the campus and our community while creating opportunities for education and research.

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Hear the Rage of the Cajuns

Geaux Cajuns

We're the only University in the world with the unforgettable athletics nickname of the Ragin’ Cajuns.

Highest level of the collegiate sports

Our student-athletes compete in the NCAA’s Division 1.

Highly ranked

In 2020, Louisiana Football was voted No. 19 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll and No. 21 in the USA Today Amway Coaches Poll.

Heart & Hand

Nearly 130,000 people have earned degrees from UL Lafayette since its founding, although their diplomas may bear different school names. SLII became Southwestern Louisiana Institute in 1921. SLI was renamed the University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1960. In 1999, USL became the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

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