BATON ROUGE — In fall of 2025, LSU will launch a new instructional site on its Baton Rouge campus for its nationally recognized Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.

The expansion comes as Louisiana faces one of the most urgent nursing shortages in the country. The state is projected to have the 12th largest registered nurse shortage by 2026, and some forecasts estimate a 42% shortfall in nurses by 2030.

LSU Health New Orleans’ School of Nursing is consistently ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the nation, with graduates serving as health care leaders across Louisiana and beyond.

Baton Rouge pre-nursing students have long expressed a strong preference to complete their nursing degrees without relocating. In a recent survey, a majority of pre-nursing students indicated they would apply to the LSU nursing program if it were offered in Baton Rouge.

“We’re producing more registered nurses with a bachelor’s degree, and this expansion is a key part of ensuring that our pre-nursing students have an option to stay local,” said Demetrius Porche, dean of LSU Health New Orleans.

Students at the Baton Rouge instructional site will receive the same rigorous, high-quality curriculum as those at the New Orleans campus, delivered through a combination of in-person instruction and synchronous distance education.

Clinical training will be provided through secured partnerships with Woman’s Hospital and Our Lady of the Lake, offering students hands-on experience in real-world health care settings. Students will also benefit from high-fidelity simulation labs and immersive learning environments that mirror hospital units.

Initial enrollment will start with 30 students in the first semester, increase to 60 in the second, and eventually reach 90 students. The traditional nursing track spans three years of full-time study, with cohorts admitted each fall and spring. The first Baton Rouge cohort is expected to graduate in May 2028.

New Master’s of Public Health and Epidemiology Program

LSU is also launching a new two-year master’s program in public health and epidemiology in fall 2025. Amid rising demand for public health professionals, the program will equip future leaders with the skills needed to address critical challenges in disease prevention, health advocacy and epidemiologic research across the state.

The program will draw on interdisciplinary faculty expertise and strong health care partnerships across LSU campuses and partners, creating a pipeline of professionals ready to respond to Louisiana’s most pressing health needs.