Lafayette calls itself the heart of Acadiana, the Cajun and Creole region of south Louisiana, and the university leans into that. It started in 1898 as the Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute and now has around 16,000 students. Engineering, computer science and informatics are strong. In the middle of campus is Cypress Lake, a small swamp with cypress trees, turtles and the odd alligator.
Lafayette, Louisiana, United States
Official website: louisiana.edu
1898
Public research university in Louisiana
NCAA Division I Ragin' Cajuns, Sun Belt
Cypress Lake at the centre
$19,000 – $24,000
International students, undergraduate and graduate
$11,000 – $14,000
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 louisiana.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Petroleum Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Informatics
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 61
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
A cypress swamp with alligators in the middle of campus.
Computer science and informatics research.
Petroleum engineering tied to the Gulf energy industry.
Cajun and Creole food and music all around.
Engineering graduates join Gulf Coast energy and industrial firms.
Computer science graduates move into software roles across the US.
STEM graduates can apply for up to three years of OPT.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Lafayette is known for its food and music: boudin, crawfish in spring, and zydeco and Cajun bands most weekends. Festival International de Louisiane fills downtown every April.
Rent is low, and summers are long, hot and humid. Baton Rouge is under an hour east and New Orleans about two hours.
Form I-20 issued by the institution
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
UL Lafayette reviews international applications on a rolling basis, with recommended dates a few months before each semester. Apply by about May for fall and October for spring.
Most programmes start in fall (August) or spring (January).
It's the F-1 student visa. Get your I-20 from University of Louisiana at Lafayette first (they need your deposit and bank documents), then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and attend the visa interview. Book the interview early in peak season.
Computer science, petroleum engineering, informatics and the MBA are popular. Graduate entry needs a relevant bachelor's degree and IELTS 6.5, and some programmes ask for the GRE; undergraduates need school results and IELTS 6.0.
UL Lafayette offers some tuition awards to international students, and graduate students can apply for assistantships in their department. Ask the international office about current awards.
