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Accolades & Awards

Current McNeese State University Rankings

McNeese State University has been named:

  • the #3 best school in Louisiana by Best Value Schools. (2025) 
  • #3 Best Online Colleges in Louisiana by Best Colleges. (2025)
  • in the Top 5 among public and private Louisiana universities for Best Average Starting Salary and Best College Education Value.  
  • #4 among Louisiana colleges for both bachelor’s and master’s degree programs by University HQ. (2025) 
  • #9 Best Colleges in Louisiana by Intelligent.com. (2024) 
  • a Hidden Gem College in the Southeast by College Raptor. (2022)
  • one of the Best Regional Universities in the South by U.S. News and World Report for fourteen consecutive years. 

National Program Rankings

Here’s how McNeese bachelor’s and master’s degree programs rank in comparison to the thousands of degree programs offered nationwide:

Education

  • Our Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education is ranked
    • #35 in affordability by University HQ (2023)   

Liberal Arts

Psychology

  • The Master’s Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis program at McNeese is ranked
    • No. 1 in 2024 by BestValueSchools.org based on accreditation, enrollment and affordability.
    • Top 15 Online programs by Intelligent.com (2024)
    • Top 30 by Intelligent.com (2024)
    • # 50 for affordability by Intelligent.com (2024) 

Nursing

  • Our online RN-to-BSN program ranked:
    • #31 in affordability by University HQ. (2022) 

Professional School Acceptance Rates and Exam Passage Rates

Liberal Arts

  • 81% of McNeese graduates who applied to law school were admitted. 

Health Professions

  • 70% of McNeese graduates who applied to medical school were admitted. 
  • 90% of graduates majoring in pre-physical therapy are accepted into physical and occupational therapy programs. 
  • 100% of medical laboratory science graduates are hired in a laboratory, with 100% of graduates accepting an offer before commencement.  
  • Since the program began in 1978, radiological sciences graduates have a 97% first-time passage rate on the National Certification Examination administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. 
  • 100% of radiological sciences graduates seeking employment were employed prior to or within one month of graduation.

Psychology

Nursing

  • The Spring 2021 nursing graduates scored a perfect 100% passage rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).  
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Athletics

  •  McNeese Athletics has been the highest ranked Southland Conference program of the five Louisiana member schools for the Southland Conference Commissioner’s Cup for 10 consecutive years.  
  • McNeese has won a total of 52 Southland Conference Championships during its history in the league, tied as the third-most ever won by a school and the most by a Louisiana member. 
  • McNeese holds the conference record for most championships won in football (14) and softball (6) and has the second-most titles in men’s basketball (6) and men’s cross country (8). 
  • National Championship Rodeo Finals appearances for 30 consecutive years. 
  • Men’s rodeo team finished as 2023 Reserve Champions.
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