Louisiana State University is the state's flagship public research university, in Baton Rouge on the Mississippi River. It is best known for petroleum and chemical engineering, coastal and environmental science, business and mass communication, with the Gulf Coast energy industry as a major employer. Choose it for an energy or environmental degree at low public-university cost.
Baton Rouge, United States
Official website: lsu.edu
#901
Top 10 in the US (U.S. News)
R1 — very high research activity
Italian Renaissance buildings under live oaks, on the Mississippi River
$26,000 – $30,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$13,000 – $17,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on lsu.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Petroleum Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Analytics (Ourso College of Business)
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Chemical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MBA (Ourso College of Business)
Masters DegreeDuration
16 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
BS Petroleum Engineering
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
Petroleum engineering — a top-10 US programme beside the Gulf Coast's refineries and offshore industry.
Coastal and environmental science — a leading centre for wetlands and hurricane research.
Tiger Stadium — one of the loudest and largest stadiums in US college sport.
Italian Renaissance campus under live oaks on the Mississippi River.
Graduates join ExxonMobil, Shell, Dow, Chevron and the petrochemical plants along the Mississippi.
Petroleum and chemical engineering graduates report median starting salaries around USD 75,000-90,000.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Business analytics graduates move into roles at banks, energy firms and consultancies in Houston and New Orleans.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The 2,000-acre campus sits on the Mississippi River south of downtown Baton Rouge, with Italian Renaissance buildings around the Quad, the engineering complex and Tiger Stadium.
Baton Rouge is Louisiana's capital, a mid-sized city with low rent, hot humid summers and a big petrochemical job market. New Orleans is 80 minutes away.
Form I-20 issued by LSU
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Undergraduate admission is rolling, with a 15 November 2026 priority date for fall 2027 that gives the best chance at scholarships; international applicants should apply by May to leave time for the visa. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most engineering master's closing between January and May.
Undergraduates can start in fall (August), spring (January) or summer (June). Most computer science and engineering master's programmes also admit for spring, while the Ourso MBA and analytics master's are fall only. Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. International Services issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, petroleum engineering, analytics, chemical engineering and the Ourso MBA attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 79 or IELTS 6.5, and the GRE or GMAT for some programmes. Undergraduate admission is based mainly on grades.
Yes. International undergraduates are automatically considered for merit scholarships based on their grades when they apply by the priority date, with some awards reducing tuition toward the in-state rate. Graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships, common in engineering and the sciences.
