Excellence lives here.
The Louisiana State University System—consisting of institutions and extension offices across Louisiana’s 64 parishes—provides meaningful access to life-changing education and innovation that improves the overall quality of life for Louisianians.
Since our founding in 1860, the System has fundamentally changed the way we educate our state through the consistent pursuit of excellence and accessibility, and we remain committed to our responsibility for expanding educational opportunities for students and positioning LSU as one of the top 50 research enterprises in the nation.
Our Values
Excellence
The LSU System sets the standard for excellence—in academics, athletics, and research—by focusing on fiscal discipline, strong management, intentional organization, and innovation.
Accessibility
We are committed to expanding opportunities for Louisiana through our focus on affordable, accessible education, rooted in fair standards and supported by streamlined, efficient pathways for progression.
Accountability
We measure what matters—helping students enter high-demand professions by maintaining academic excellence and responding to the workforce needs that meet economic demands.
Universities
Whether you’re looking to stay close to home or spend your Saturday nights in Death Valley, the LSU System has a campus for you. Explore our universities to find your home in the LSU System family.
Research
The LSU System is home to a comprehensive research enterprise. Our researchers are driving cutting-edge research in Louisiana, for the world.
Providing an elite college experience through an uncommon standard of excellence.
System History
Showing 1860: 1860
1860
Louisiana State Seminary in Pineville, La. was officially established, with classes beginning in January 1860.
1861
Louisiana State Seminary closed due to the pending American Civil War.
1865
Louisiana State Seminary reopened its doors for four students. Activity nearly ceased over the next ten years, with only five students and three faculty members remaining.
1869
Louisiana State Seminary burned in a fire, prompting the campus relocation to Baton Rouge. Once reopened, the school served 170 students.
Despite several attempts to move back to Pineville, there was never enough support for the move.
1870
Louisiana State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy officially changes its name to Louisiana State University.
1877
A separate institution—the Louisiana Agricultural & Mechanical College—sought to replace LSU as the most prominent institution in the state. After competing for state funding, the two merged to form Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College.
1886
LSU A&M acquired a new home—the United States Barracks located in the heart of downtown Baton Rouge. Today, the location is known as the Pentagon Barracks and is used by state officials as apartments.
1886
The State Experiment Station, dedicated to experiments with crops grown in the state, along with experiment stations in Calhoun and near New Orleans, were established.
1892
LSU A&M added its third official course pathway—Latin-Science—to its existing Agricultural and Mechanical and Engineering Courses. The addition was shortly followed by General Science in 1894.
1906
The LSU A&M law school, now the Paul M. Hebert Law School, was established, setting the foundation for the college system still in use today.
1919
With enrollment surpassing 1,000 students, the Pentagon Barracks no longer had sufficient space for the university. President Thomas Boyd officially began the search for a new campus location.
1926
LSU A&M formally dedicated its campus at its current Baton Rouge location.
1958
The LSU System establishes its first commuter campus, LSU New Orleans, in New Orleans, La.
1960
The LSU System establishes LSU of Alexandria in Alexandria, La.
1967
The LSU System establishes two branch campuses—LSU Eunice and LSU Shreveport—in Eunice and Shreveport, La., respectively.
