Centenary College of Louisiana

This is a highly residential campus—87% of students live in college housing, creating a tight-knit community. Student life revolves around:

• D1 athletics (the college competes in the NCAA's Southland Conference)
• Greek life (though not overwhelmingly dominant)
• Clubs and arts events, from theater productions to community service projects

The Shreveport location provides access to urban amenities (museums, medical centers for internships) while maintaining a classic quad-and-dorms collegiate feel. Diversity programming is actively promoted, though the student body skews regional.

Graduation rates tell a mixed story: the six-year rate is 55–60% (above national averages for similar institutions), but the four-year rate dips to 43–55%, suggesting many students take longer to finish. Alumni earnings are modest—$32,432 median income one year post-graduation, rising to $42,000 by six years out. The college emphasizes professional school placement (especially medicine) as a key success metric, though hard data on those pathways isn't publicly available.

With a net price of $30,050–$32,045 after aid, Centenary is expensive for the region but offers near-universal financial support—87% of students receive aid, including merit scholarships automatically considered for all applicants. Louisiana residents can stack TOPS state grants on top of institutional aid. The college promotes payment plans to ease cash flow, acknowledging the financial stretch for many families.

Centenary is a quirky hybrid: a small liberal arts college with D1 sports, a Methodist affiliation that doesn't dominate campus culture, and a science focus unusual for its size. Its Shreveport location—a midsize city not overrun with colleges—gives students access to internships and clinical opportunities rare for undergrads. The test-optional?Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight. policy and July 15 deadline make it accessible for late-deciding students. Just know the sticker price requires careful aid negotiation, and the graduation rates hint at academic support challenges.