In 1959, the Louisiana Legislature authorized the establishment of LSUA as a two-year commuter college under the governance of the LSU Board of Supervisors. LSUA registered its first students in September of 1960. The first degree program, an Associate in Nursing degree, was initiated in the Division of Nursing in 1964.
The additional academic divisions of Liberal Arts, Business Administration, and Sciences were created in 1967. In 1974, LSUA was accredited by the Commission on 吃瓜直播s of the Southern Association of 吃瓜直播s and Schools (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. This accreditation was reaffirmed in 1984, 1994, and 2004.
Only one associate degree was available at LSUA from 1964 to March 1986, when the Associate of Arts and Associate of Science transfer degrees were approved. Over the next 15 years, several associate degree and certificate programs were added that the university continues to offer including:
From 1976 through Spring 2003, Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical 吃瓜直播 offered the upper-level course work for select bachelor's degree programs on the LSUA campus through a program known as LSU Senior 吃瓜直播. Initially, the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Bachelor of General Studies were offered. The Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education was added in 1982-83.
ALEXANDRIA, La. - Central Louisiana鈥檚 economy continued to strengthen in the second quarter of 2025, with steady job growth, rising consumer activity, and stable business formation across Rapides Parish, Alexandria, Pineville, and Natchitoches.
Employment in the Alexandria metropolitan statistical area rose to 61,721 in June, a gain of 707 jobs from May and 795 more than a year earlier. The quarterly average reached 61,348 employed persons, up 705 from the first quarter. Rapides Parish, which accounts for the largest share of the region鈥檚 labor force, recorded an unemployment rate of 4.6% in June, nearly matching the statewide average of 4.5%.
鈥淐entral Louisiana continues to show encouraging resilience,鈥� said Randall Dupont, the dashboard鈥檚 author and business professor at LSUA. 鈥淭he region has added jobs, and that growth is especially meaningful when paired with signs of healthy consumer spending and business investment.鈥�
In Natchitoches Parish, employment averaged 14,205 in the second quarter, up 3% from the first quarter, an increase of 442 jobs. Although the June unemployment rate stood at 7.1%, above the regional average, the increase in employment suggests more residents are entering the labor force.
鈥淭he rising employment base in Natchitoches reflects an expanding labor force and growing opportunity鈥攂oth signs of underlying momentum,鈥� Dupont said.
Consumer spending also showed strength. Sales tax revenue in Rapides Parish increased 11% from the previous quarter and 6% year-over-year. Alexandria and Pineville each recorded quarterly growth of 4% to 5%, while Natchitoches posted an 8% quarterly gain and an 11% increase compared to the same period last year.
鈥淪pending patterns in places like Pineville and Natchitoches point to a broader recovery that is reaching into all markets,鈥� Dupont added. 鈥淭hese are not isolated upticks鈥攖hey represent a consistent theme of community-level economic strength.鈥�
New business formation remained stable. Rapides Parish recorded 96 new business formations in the second quarter, up from 93 in the first quarter. The year-to-date total of 189 businesses is nearly unchanged from the first half of 2024.
Statewide, Louisiana recorded 17,091 business applications in the second quarter, up 10% from the first quarter and 3% higher than a year ago. However, the year-to-date total remains 6% lower than the first half of 2024.
鈥淲hether we鈥檙e looking at jobs, spending, or startups, the second-quarter data confirms that central Louisiana is holding its ground and, in many areas, quietly gaining strength,鈥� Dupont said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a testament to the region鈥檚 adaptability and long-term potential.鈥�
The Central Louisiana Economic Dashboard, a service of the LSUA 吃瓜直播 of Business, helps leaders monitor regional economic trends. View the full July 2025 issue at .
Media inquiries, please contact Randall Dupont at rdupont@lsua.edu.
Written by Randall Dupont, D.B.A. | LSUA 吃瓜直播 of Business
Photo credit - LSUA Strategic Communications
On June 5, 2001, following approval by the Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors and the Louisiana Board of Regents, the Louisiana Legislature passed legislation (Senate Bill 853) allowing Louisiana State University at Alexandria to offer baccalaureate degrees. In December 2002, SACSCOC approved a substantive change request from LSUA, thereby accrediting the university to award both associate and baccalaureate degrees.
In Fall 2003, LSUA was reorganized into colleges and departments rather than divisions. The 吃瓜直播 of Arts and Sciences is comprised of the departments of Arts, English and Humanities; Behavioral and Social Sciences; Biological Sciences; and Mathematics and Physical Sciences. The 吃瓜直播 of Professional Studies is comprised of the departments of Allied Health, Business Administration, Education, and Nursing.
LSUA began offering four baccalaureate degrees in Fall 2003: Bachelor of Science in Biology, Bachelor of General Studies, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, and Bachelor of Liberal Studies. Because there were students at LSUA who had completed upper-level course work through LSU Senior 吃瓜直播, LSUA produced its first bachelor's degree graduates in December 2003.
A Bachelor of Science in Psychology, approved by the LSU Board of Supervisors in March 2005, and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, approved by the LSU Board in June 2006, are now offered. In 2008 the university began offering Bachelor of Arts degrees in English, Communication Studies, and History, along with Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Administration, Criminal Justice, and Nursing.
In addition to the Department of Education offering courses that lead to an Associate of Arts in The Care and Development of Young Children and the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, courses are offered for alternative certification in the following areas: Elementary Education, Grades 1-5; Health and Physical Education, Grades K-12; and Secondary Education, Grades 6-12 for the areas of biology, English, history, and mathematics. Students who major in biology, English, history, or mathematics may declare Secondary Education as a minor in these areas of study, earning certification to teach that subject in Grades 6-12. Add-on certifications are available for Early Childhood Education (PK-3) and Special Education in area of existing certification(s).
The Oaks, the university’s first student housing complex, opened in the fall of 2007. The complex, which includes four apartment buildings and a community center.
LSUA hired its first athletic director in January 2007 and began competing in NAIA men’s baseball and women’s fast-pitch softball in Spring 2008. In January 2010, LSUA’s new on-campus baseball-softball complex was unveiled in an opening day dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony. The complex is located on the north side of campus adjacent to the Fitness Center and features seats transferred from the famed Alex Box Stadium on the Baton Rouge campus.
LSUA added five sports in 2014 including men’s and women’s basketball and soccer teams along with women’s tennis. LSUA joined the Red River Athletic Conference in 2014. The RRAC includes Bacone 吃瓜直播 (Okla.), Huston-Tilloston University (Texas), Jarvis Christian 吃瓜直播 (Texas), Langston University (Okla.), LSU-Shreveport, Our Lady of the Lake University (Texas), Paul Quinn 吃瓜直播 (Texas), Texas 吃瓜直播, University of St. Thomas (Texas), University of Texas-Brownsville, University of the Southwest (New Mexico) and Wiley 吃瓜直播 (Texas) in addition to LSUA.
The university’s newest building, Mulder Hall, was opened in August 2011. The building is a 70,000 square-foot facility that provides 18 classrooms, 4 academic department office suites, 52 faculty offices, 2 conference rooms, a computer lab and a writing lab, a painting and drawing studio, a ceramics studio, a photography suite, and a black box theater that seats 175 people.