LSU Online & Continuing Education

What LSU Online & Continuing Education does

LSU Online & Continuing Education is the distance-education unit of the Louisiana State University System, headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It delivers more than 150 fully online degree and certificate programs spanning eight LSU campuses, organized around asynchronous instruction, 7-week accelerated terms, six annual start dates, and the Moodle learning management system. The unit is led by Vice President Dr. Sasha Thackaberry and employs approximately 184 staff, and it holds multiple stacked accreditations (SACSCOC, AACSB, ACCE, ABET) plus NC-SARA reciprocity enabling enrollment from residents in 49 U.S. states.

The customer base spans two channels: individual learners (working professionals, career changers, parents, and veterans) recruited through direct-to-consumer marketing, and employer-sponsored cohorts routed through partnerships with Amazon Career Choice, Guild Education, Raising Cane's, Saber Healthcare Group, and MD Anderson. Pricing is a flat per-credit-hour tuition of $465-$484 with no out-of-state differential, and the unit advertises a 75% credit acceptance rate, dedicated enrollment coaching, and tuition-lock and degree-completion guarantees to reduce switching friction.

The revenue model is tuition-based. Programs range in published price from approximately $14,520 (30-credit MBA) to roughly $57,000-$58,000 (123-125 credit bachelor's), yielding average annual per-student tuition in the $10,000-$15,000 range across an estimated active enrollment in the low-to-mid thousands. The unit has accumulated 18,000+ lifetime graduates since its 2020 inception and continues to expand its catalog with degree launches in computer science and coastal environmental science and to build third-party ranking credentials through U.S. News & World Report and OnlineU.com designations in 2025-2026.

Name

LSU Online & Continuing Education

Legal name

Louisiana State University Online & Continuing Education

Website

https://online.lsu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

LSU Online & Continuing Education is the online division of the Louisiana State University System, delivering 150+ fully online degree and certificate programs across eight campuses to working professionals, career changers, and employer-partner employees in 49 U.S. states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Higher Education & Continuing Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Fully Online Universities (Online-First, Degree-Granting) (EDAHALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online Divisions of Traditional Universities (Hybrid/Extension) (EDAHALAB), Online Professional Schools (MBA/MPA/MPH/Etc.) (EDAHALAE), Online Teacher Education Universities (Licensure & M.Ed.) (EDAHALAG), Professional & Applied Skills Noncredit Certificates (Non-licensure) (EDAAAEAD), University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

Keywords

• Online degree programs
• Continuing education
• Distance learning
• Professional development
• Graduate certificates

Headquarters

HQ city

Baton Rouge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: LSU Online generates revenue through tuition charged per credit hour for online degree and certificate programs. Programs offer flat-rate tuition with no out-of-state fees. Payment is structured as pay-as-you-go per term. Application fees are charged separately for undergraduate and graduate applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LSU Online & Continuing Education delivers fully online undergraduate and graduate degree programs, graduate certificates, and non-credit continuing education courses through Louisiana State University. The catalog contains 150+ programs targeting working adults, parents, career changers, and veterans seeking accredited, flexible higher education delivered asynchronously through a Moodle-based platform. Programs include bachelor completions, master's degrees, graduate certificates, industry certifications, and short-form professional development, with a flat-rate tuition model that does not charge out-of-state fees.

Product overview

LSU Online & Continuing Education is a platform offering over 150 fully online degree programs, certificates, and courses across the LSU System. The portfolio includes undergraduate and graduate degree programs (Bachelor's, Master's, MBA, and doctoral-level offerings) spanning business, engineering, construction management, education, healthcare, technology, and liberal arts. Key products include the Bachelor of Science in Construction Management (ranked #2 nationally), the Flores MBA, various engineering graduate programs, business analytics degrees, and professional certificates. The platform provides flexible, asynchronous learning with 7-week terms, six start dates annually, dedicated student support coaches, and employer education benefit partnerships. All programs offer the same diploma as on-campus options with no "online" designation, and there are no out-of-state fees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online Bachelor of Science in Construction Management Fully online bachelor's degree in construction management, accredited by ACCE, targeting working professionals seeking management roles in the construction industry.
• Flores Online Master of Business Administration (MBA) Fully online AACSB-accredited MBA program targeting working professionals and aspiring business leaders seeking graduate business credentials.
• Online Master in Computer Science Fully online master's degree in computer science, targeting working professionals and career changers seeking advanced technical credentials in software and computing.
• Online Bachelor of Science in Coastal Environmental Science Fully online bachelor's degree in coastal environmental science, designed for working professionals and transfer students pursuing careers in environmental science and coastal resource management.
• Online Bachelor's Degree Programs Online bachelor's degree completion programs across business, humanities, social sciences, education, and STEM disciplines for adult learners, transfer students, parents, and veterans.
• Online Master's Degree Programs Online master's degree programs across engineering, business, education, computer science, and applied sciences for working professionals seeking graduate credentials.
• Online Graduate Certificate Programs Shorter-form, fully online graduate certificates in specialized subject areas, designed for working professionals seeking targeted credentials without committing to a full degree.
• Online Degree Programs for Veterans Dedicated online degree pathway for veterans and military-affiliated learners, supporting use of military education benefits with flexible scheduling.
• Professional Development & Continuing Education Courses Non-credit continuing education courses, short-form training, and industry certifications for working professionals seeking skill updates without pursuing a degree.
• Education Benefit Partnership Programs Partnership program enabling employers to offer LSU Online degrees and certificates to their employees as a tuition benefit, with the employer typically subsidizing tuition.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90%+ job placement rate for Construction Management program graduates after graduation
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Amazon Career ChoicecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazon Career Choice is a pre-paid education benefit program that helps Amazon employees earn college degrees and career certifications. LSU Online is an approved partner institution in the Amazon Career Choice network, enabling Amazon employees to use their education benefits toward LSU Online degree and certificate programs. This partnership provides LSU Online with direct access to Amazon's large U.S. workforce as a pipeline of prospective students.
• Guild EducationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGuild Education provides an education benefits platform connecting LSU Online with employees of Guild's employer clients. LSU and Guild partner to provide stackable credentials and degrees to working adult learners. Guild serves as an intermediary, routing employees from partner companies to LSU Online programs and providing employers with reporting and administration tools for education benefits management.
• Raising Cane'smajorGTM or Marketing PartnerRaising Cane's partners with LSU Online to provide tuition assistance to eligible employees pursuing online degrees and certificates. LSU Online offers a custom benefits page for Raising Cane's employees and provides enrollment coaching and support. A Raising Cane's employee testimonial (Logan Beam) attests to the support team experience.
• Saber Healthcare GroupmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSaber Healthcare Group provides employer education benefits to employees pursuing degrees through LSU Online. A Saber employee testimonial (Luv Berkley) highlights how the education benefit made further education financially attainable without the stress of tuition costs. This partnership is part of Saber Healthcare's employee retention and professional development strategy.
• NC-SARA (National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements)coreOthersLSU Online participates in NC-SARA, enabling it to deliver online programs to students in 49 member states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands. SARA membership requires compliance with nearly 100 standards in the SARA policy manual. Individual LSU campuses maintain their own NC-SARA memberships.
• SAN (State Authorization Network)coreOthersSAN membership is maintained by LSU Online for LSU A&M (Baton Rouge) and provides interstate compliance support at the state level, ensuring compliance with state regulations for distance learning. SAN is a membership organization created by WCET (WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies). LSU also maintains WCET membership system-wide through the Louisiana Board of Regents.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Colorado State University Global: Nonprofit online-only public university (the online arm of the CSU system) focused on working adults and employer partnerships. Directly comparable in pay-by-the-course pricing, employer-benefit channels, and adult-learner focus.
• Arizona State University Online (ASU Online): ASU's online division is one of the largest in the U.S., offering 200+ programs with strong brand recognition and multiple U.S. News rankings. Comparable to LSU Online in flagship-public-university online model and adult learner focus.
• Purdue University Global: Online-focused public university extension (formerly Kaplan University) with strong adult learner and military focus. Comparable to LSU Online in employer-benefit partnerships, flat-rate tuition, and asynchronous delivery.
• Penn State World Campus: Penn State's online division, recognized for strong veteran and military support and broad program catalog. Directly comparable in public flagship online model, employer partnerships, and U.S. News-ranked programs.
• Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU): One of the largest online-first nonprofit universities in the U.S., serving 135,000+ online students across degree and certificate programs. Directly comparable to LSU Online in asynchronous online delivery, adult learner focus, employer-benefit partnerships, and broad program catalog.
• Western Governors University (WGU): Nonprofit, competency-based online university serving 150,000+ students, with strong employer partnerships and flat-rate tuition by term. Directly competes with LSU Online for working adult learners seeking affordable, accredited online degrees and stackable credentials.
• University of Florida Online: Public flagship university online division ranked among top U.S. News online programs. Directly comparable in flagship brand, broad program catalog, and emphasis on the same-diploma/no-online-designation positioning.
• Oregon State University Ecampus: Oregon State's online division, consistently top-ranked by U.S. News across multiple disciplines. Comparable to LSU Online in flagship-public-online model, SARA-enabled national reach, and broad program portfolio.
• University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC): Public online university serving 60,000+ students with deep military and federal workforce focus. Directly comparable in employer/government partnerships, adult-learner base, asynchronous delivery, and flat-rate tuition.
• University of Illinois Springfield: Public university with strong online program portfolio, including U.S. News-ranked MBA and graduate programs. Comparable to LSU Online in public-university online delivery, adult-learner focus, and SARA-enabled multi-state reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LSUOnline
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBxuMuqT8VEQlFN9LfR7pag?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/lsuonline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lsuonline1
• Instagraminstagram.com/lsuonline
• TikToktiktok.com/@lsuonline

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LSU Online & Continuing Education