Alexandria, La. (2/3/2026) — Louisiana State University of Alexandria (LSUA) has been named one of the nation’s top institutions in the inauguralNewsweek America’s Best Colleges for Women 2026 rankings, placing #52 nationally out of more than 1,300 colleges and universities evaluated. The ranking positions LSUA in the top 4% nationwide, underscoring the university’s strong performance in creating an environment where women are supported as students, scholars, and future professionals.
Within Louisiana, LSUA ranked second statewide, trailing only Holy Cross College (#32). The next closest Louisiana institutions included in the rankings, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University and Xavier University, settled in the top 200. Northwestern State University and the University of Louisiana at Monroe appeared in the 300–400 range, while most other Louisiana colleges ranked below the 750 mark. The results highlight LSUA’s exceptional standing not only among peer institutions in the state but across the national higher education landscape.
The America’s Best Colleges for Women ranking is a new national evaluation developed by Newsweek in partnership with Gender Fair. Their methodology evaluates institutions across four weighted areas: leadership (35%), pay and policies (25%), safety (20%), and opportunity (20%). The rankings draw primarily from federally reported data through the U.S. Department of Education, including the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the Campus Safety and Security Database, supplemented by desk research to account for recent institutional developments.
LSUA’s Performance
LSUA’s performance in the leadership category reflects strong representation of women across academic and executive roles. Two of the five members of the university’s senior leadership team are women, both of whom hold Ph.Ds. Women lead four of LSUA’s seven academic units, including the College of Social Sciences, the College of Liberal Arts, the School of Nursing, and the School of Education. Among faculty ranks, women account for 39% of full professors, 68% of associate professors, 63% of assistant professors, and 66% of instructors, demonstrating sustained representation across academic career stages.
In the area of pay and policies, LSUA maintains a full-time, licensed, and accredited childcare center on campus, serving the children of students, faculty, and staff. The presence of on-campus childcare is a key metric within the ranking’s evaluation of institutional policies that support women’s participation and advancement in higher education and the workforce.
Safety also emerged as a notable strength for LSUA. A review of the university’s Clery Act crime statistics shows no reported Clery-reportable crimes classified as crimes against women over the past ten years, resulting in a per-capita rate of zero during that period. By comparison, the most recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics indicates a national average of 16.9 crimes per 10,000 full-time equivalent students, placing LSUA well below national norms.
Opportunity Metrics
Opportunity metrics further reinforce LSUA’s standing as an institution that serves women across a broad range of academic and professional pathways. Women make up 71% of LSUA’s degree-seeking student population and are highly represented in several high-demand fields, including education (90%), biological sciences (83%), physical sciences (57%), and business (65%). LSUA’s first-year retention rate for female students stands at 70%, matching the national average and reflecting consistent outcomes for student persistence and success.
According to Newsweek Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Cunningham, the ranking is designed to help students and families identify institutions that “prioritize leadership opportunities, equitable pay practices, campus safety, and meaningful pathways to success,” while recognizing that many coeducational institutions are making measurable progress in advancing gender equity.
As the LSU System’s only undergraduate-only institution, LSUA offers women a focused academic environment, personalized support structures, and clear pathways into graduate and professional programs across Louisiana. The university’s mission emphasizes accessibility, workforce alignment, and long-term student success, which are priorities that are reflected in both the methodology and outcomes of the ranking.
This recognition adds to LSUA’s growing national profile built on sustained enrollment growth, strong retention outcomes, and increasing placement of graduates into high-demand workforce fields and professional programs at LSU and beyond. Together, these indicators point to a university that is not only expanding, but doing so with intention, equity, and measurable impact for women across central Louisiana and beyond.
Written by Adam Lord
Graphic: Adapted from Newsweek
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