Three diverse choices exist for students seeking a historically Black college or university in New Orleans, Louisiana. Xavier University, a private Catholic institution that was extensively damaged by Hurricane Katrina, reopened just months after it was covered in 4 feet of water. Dillard University, a private institution that has also made a comeback post-Katrina, offers four-year liberal arts degrees. Southern University at New Orleans, a public institution that offers associate through master's degrees, was also flooded during Hurricane Katrina.
Xavier University
Xavier University of Louisiana, a private Catholic university, was founded by Saint Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in 1925. Xavier is the only Catholic university in the United States that is also historically Black (approximately 70 percent of the 3,400 current students are African-American), and about half are from Louisiana. All undergraduates are required to complete 66 hours of liberal arts core curriculum courses. Xavier offers 47 majors at the undergraduate, graduate and professional degree levels.
Xavier University of Louisiana 1 Drexel Drive New Orleans, LA 70125 504-486-7411 www.xula.edu
Dillard University
Dillard University was founded in its current format in 1930. It is a private liberal arts college that offers bachelor's degrees in 37 majors, with a 10 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and a ranking among the top 10 historically Black colleges in the United States. Areas of study cover business, education and psychology, humanities, natural sciences and public health, nursing and social sciences. As of Fall 2009, 95 percent of Dillard University's approximately 1,000 students were African-American.
Dillard University 2601 Gentilly Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70122 504-283-8822 dillard.edu
Southern University at New Orleans
Southern University at New Orleans, a public university, was founded in 1956. It offers associate, bachelor's and master's degrees. About 3,100 students attend, and 95 percent are African-American, according to the College Board. Southern University at New Orleans was ranked first in Louisiana for campus safety. Graduate degree programs include social work, museum studies, management information systems and criminal justice. In addition, the university offers 16 undergraduate majors.
Southern University at New Orleans 6400 Press Drive New Orleans, LA 70126 504-286-5000 www.suno.edu
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Lea Webb is a CPA and internal auditor with the State of California. She holds degrees in politics and public administration. She has written professionally as communications coordinator for a member association and as a government performance auditor.