Study in Alexandria, The United States

About Alexandria

Alexandria is a small city in the centre of the state of Louisiana, in the southern United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates its population at 43,133 in 2024, within Rapides Parish, which has 125,899 inhabitants. According to the city, Alexandria was laid out in 1805 and grew as a centre of transport, trade and agriculture.

For a student, Alexandria means one public university campus in a quiet regional centre rather than a big-city experience. Daily life turns around the campus, teaching is in English, and costs are low by U.S. standards.

Studying in Alexandria

Our directory lists one university in Alexandria: Louisiana State University at Alexandria (LSUA), a publicly supported institution that offers undergraduate education and serves Central Louisiana. The Louisiana Legislature authorised it in 1959 as a two-year commuter college, and it registered its first students in September 1960. Since 2001 it has been allowed to offer bachelor's degrees, and it is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate and baccalaureate degrees.

LSUA reports 8,600 students for Fall 2026, the largest enrolment in its history, and a student-to-faculty ratio of 24:1. It offers more than 80 degree programmes, on campus or fully online, in five colleges: Business; Health and Human Services; Liberal Arts; Science, Technology and Mathematics; and Social Sciences. Examples named by the university include Nursing, Computer Science, Professional Aviation and Zoo Sciences.

International applicants must have all their documents at the Admissions Office at least 60 days before the semester starts. LSUA asks for:

• An application with fees of $80 in total
• A course-by-course evaluation of secondary and post-secondary records by a recognised evaluation service
• Proof of English, for example an IELTS score of at least 6.5 or a Duolingo score of 100
• Proof of funds, currently $26,500 per year

Degree students usually need an F student visa. Once an SEVP-certified school has accepted you, its international student office sends the Form I-20 that you present when you apply for the visa, according to EducationUSA. LSUA's International Programs office gives immigration advice and runs a separate orientation for international students the week before classes start in the fall.

Cost of living for students

LSUA's cost page lists tuition and fees of $7,097.83 per semester for a non-resident student taking 12 semester hours, and $3,465.95 for a Louisiana resident, plus an estimated $650 for textbooks and supplies. The page notes that tuition and fees are subject to change for the Fall 2026 semester. Non-resident first-time students with a 2.25 high school GPA and either a 21 ACT or a 1030 SAT score qualify for an Out-of-State Fee Waiver, which brings tuition down to the resident rate.

On campus, students live in The Oaks Apartments, with one-, two- and four-bedroom furnished units. The housing rate includes electricity, water, laundry and internet. First-time freshmen under 21 who register for 12 hours or more are required to live on campus while space is available. International students on F-1 and J-1 visas must enrol in the university's health insurance plan; its cost depends on the student's age.

F-1 students may work on campus up to 20 hours a week while school is in session, and up to 40 hours during university breaks.

Getting around and daily life

The city's bus service, ATRANS, covers Alexandria and neighbouring Pineville from Monday to Saturday. Day routes run from 6:10 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and night service continues until 10 p.m. The regular adult fare is $0.75 in 2026, paid with exact change.

There are no direct international flights to Alexandria. Most students fly into a major U.S. airport and take a connecting flight to Alexandria International Airport (AEX), about 20 miles from LSUA. The university does not provide transport from the airport; it puts a taxi at approximately $30 to $40.

The climate is warm. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for Alexandria International Airport give an average temperature of 49.3 °F (about 10 °C) in January and 82.8 °F (about 28 °C) in July.

Frequently asked questions

Which Alexandria is this page about?

Alexandria in the state of Louisiana, a city of about 43,000 people in the centre of the state. Towns called Alexandria in other U.S. states have their own pages.

Which universities are in Alexandria?

Our directory lists Louisiana State University at Alexandria (LSUA), a public university that awards associate and bachelor's degrees.

How much does LSUA cost for an international student?

LSUA lists $7,097.83 per semester in tuition and fees for a non-resident student taking 12 semester hours, plus about $650 for books. International applicants must show funds of $26,500 per year.

What level of English does LSUA ask for?

Applicants whose native language is not English submit a test score, for example IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 100; LSUA also accepts TOEFL and several other tests.