Louisiana Medical Schools 2025 Guide: LSU New Orleans, LSU Shreveport, and Tulane

Why choose Louisiana for medical school

Louisiana offers a rare mix of training environments. In New Orleans you will find large urban hospitals, safety net medicine, and vibrant culture. In Shreveport you will find a tighter community feel and a lower cost of living that can help you stay focused. Across the state you will encounter diverse patient populations, strong service learning, and plenty of opportunities to grow as a clinician and teammate.

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The Louisiana medical school landscape

Louisiana currently has three MD programs. Each differs in size, mission, and clinical network, which makes it easier to find a program that fits your goals and learning style.

• Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans
• Louisiana State University Health Shreveport
• Tulane University School of Medicine

If you are building a wide list, remember to look beyond state borders and to include a balanced range of schools based on mission fit and your academic profile.

#1. LSU Health New Orleans:

Programs and curriculum

LSU Health New Orleans offers the MD degree with pathways for research, community engagement, and combined training. Students rotate through public and partner hospitals that serve a broad cross section of the city, from complex tertiary cases to community primary care.

#2. Clinical experience

You will gain early exposure to emergency care, internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, and more. The variety of rotation sites prepares you to communicate across cultures and to manage real-world constraints.

#3. Admissions notes

Applicants submit AMCAS and a secondary application. Typical competitive applicants pair solid science preparation with evidence of service, teamwork, and resilience. LSU outlines prerequisite expectations and deadlines on its admissions pages, so verify requirements as you plan your coursework and testing.

#2. LSU Health Shreveport: snapshot and strengths

Programs and curriculum

LSU Shreveport emphasizes a supportive academic culture, accessible faculty, and research options that include basic science and clinical projects. The curriculum integrates early clinical skills with systems-based science.

Clinical experience

Rotations at the university medical center and affiliated sites deliver a high volume of hands-on learning with strong mentorship. Many students cite the collegial environment and manageable city size as advantages for focus and wellness.

Admissions notes

Shreveport evaluates applicants holistically. Successful candidates present a consistent academic record, authentic clinical exposure, and sustained service that aligns with the school’s mission. Always confirm testing timelines, letters, and any supplemental assessments on the official site.

#3. Tulane University School of Medicine: snapshot and strengths

Programs and curriculum

Tulane blends rigorous science with community engagement. The MD curriculum moves from foundational courses to core clerkships and advanced electives. Students can pursue scholarly tracks and dual-degree options.

Clinical experience

Training takes place across New Orleans in both academic and community settings. Tulane places a strong emphasis on service, leadership, and public health, which is reflected in student-run clinics and partnerships across the city.

Admissions notes

Tulane practices holistic review. Competitive files show academic readiness, meaningful service, leadership, and reflective clinical experiences. Review Tulane’s secondary prompts and calendars early to avoid timing crunches.

Costs, scholarships, and living in Louisiana

Tuition and aid

Public tuition for Louisiana residents is often more affordable than out-of-state rates. Private tuition in New Orleans is higher but may be offset by institutional grants and scholarships. Build a realistic budget that includes fees, health insurance, and examination costs, and compare total cost of attendance rather than tuition alone.

Housing and lifestyle

• New Orleans offers walkable pockets near hospitals, rich food culture, and endless music and arts. Traffic can be heavy, so map your commute to clinical sites before signing a lease.
• Shreveport provides shorter commutes and lower rent, which can reduce stress during heavy study blocks.

Admissions strategy that works in Louisiana

#1. Build a balanced school list

Use MSAR or official class profiles to understand current GPA and MCAT ranges. Include reach, target, and foundation programs that align with your metrics and experiences.

#2. Earn quality clinical exposure

Hours matter less than impact. Seek experiences that involve direct patient interaction, teamwork, and exposure to diverse settings. Keep a reflection journal so you can translate experiences into strong secondaries and interviews.

#3. Show service and cultural humility

Louisiana schools value students who contribute to their communities. Longitudinal service in clinics, shelters, schools, or public health initiatives demonstrates reliability and empathy.

#4. Nail the timing

Plan your MCAT with enough runway for a retake if needed. Submit AMCAS early in the cycle, turn secondaries around promptly, and request letters well in advance.

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Sample application timeline for a Louisiana applicant

12 to 15 months before matriculation

• Map prerequisites and finish labs.
• Begin MCAT content review and full-length diagnostics.
• Start your activities list and reflection notes.
  
  

9 to 12 months before matriculation

• Sit for the MCAT with buffer time for a retake.
• Draft your personal statement and request letters.
• Identify mission-aligned experiences to highlight at each Louisiana school.
  
  

6 to 9 months before matriculation

• Submit AMCAS early in the window.
• Turn secondaries within 1 to 2 weeks.
• Continue clinical and service commitments so you can update schools if invited.
  
  

Interview season

• Practice school-specific scenarios.
• Prepare stories that show teamwork, integrity, adaptability, and patient-centered communication.

FAQs: Louisiana medical schools

#1. How many MD programs are in Louisiana

Three. LSU Health New Orleans, LSU Health Shreveport, and Tulane University School of Medicine.

#2. Do Louisiana schools require specific prerequisites

Yes. Each school lists foundational science coursework and additional expectations on its website. Check the latest guidance before you register for classes.

#3. How competitive are these programs

They are selective, especially for applicants who have not demonstrated sustained clinical exposure or service. A strong file includes academic readiness, reflective clinical experiences, and mission fit.

#4. Will out-of-state applicants be considered

Yes. Public schools have residency considerations, but qualified nonresident applicants are admitted each year. Always compare total cost of attendance and potential scholarships.

#5. Should I apply to only one Louisiana school

No. Construct a balanced list that includes schools inside and outside Louisiana to maximize your chances.

Final thoughts

Louisiana can be an outstanding place to train. Whether you thrive in New Orleans with its dynamic clinical landscape or prefer Shreveport’s focused environment, you will find rigorous science, meaningful patient care, and communities that value service. Build a strategic application, earn authentic clinical experience, and choose the program that aligns with your goals.

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Note: Go-Elective does not provide admissions advising. Always verify current prerequisites, deadlines, tuition, and fees on each medical school’s official website and in AMCAS.

Article Details

Categories

Recent Articles , Pre-health, Med Schools,

Author: Go-Elective Abroad

Date Published: Sep 13, 2025