What University of New Orleans is like

Academic feel

UNO is a public research university classified as R2 (Doctoral Universities – High research activity), situated on Lake Pontchartrain with a 195-acre campus built on the former site of Naval Air Station New Orleans. The university offers 46 bachelor's, 40 master's, and 17 doctoral degree programs across eight schools and colleges. It uniquely houses the only mechanical and electrical engineering undergraduate programs in New Orleans, the only graduate hospitality and tourism program and PAB-accredited urban planning program in Louisiana, and one of the few naval architecture and marine engineering programs in the United States. The institution has experienced significant enrollment challenges in recent years—particularly following Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and again during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in budget cuts of over 15% and a $10 million deficit announced in 2025. The university hosts substantial research activity across engineering, chemistry, law, business, and philosophy, alongside a Creative Writing Workshop that emphasizes writing pedagogy and revision as fundamental to intellectual growth.

Social life

The university supports over 120 registered student organizations, roughly 15 fraternities and sororities, and a Greek community that comprises a visible portion of student life. Campus life centers around the Earl K. Long Library (housing enrollment services, academic resources, and a learning commons), the University Center (described as "the center of campus life"), and the Administration Building. The university maintains WWNO, a local radio station broadcasting since 1972, and previously published The Driftwood as its weekly student newspaper. Residential options exist on the main campus, though recent enrollment declines have reshaped campus infrastructure and footprint.

Strengths

• Offers the only mechanical and electrical engineering undergraduate programs in New Orleans and one of the few naval architecture and marine engineering programs in the United States[1][2]
• Home to the only graduate hospitality and tourism program and PAB-accredited urban planning program in the state of Louisiana[1][2]
• Was the first of the large, damaged universities in New Orleans to reopen after Hurricane Katrina, initially offering web-based courses in October 2005[2][3]
• Maintains robust research output with significant activity in law (2,059 works), business (1,932 works), sociology (1,919 works), and organic chemistry (2,576 works)[4][5][6][7]

Weaknesses

• Enrollment declined sharply during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching record lows close to post-Katrina levels due to non-traditional students shifting to online universities and failure to sustain in-person classes[3]
• President Kathy Johnson implemented budget cuts exceeding 15% during summer 2024, less than a year after her appointment, and the university later announced a $10 million budget deficit with mandatory employee furloughs[3]
• Multiple campus buildings have been decommissioned due to chronic maintenance issues and deferred maintenance challenges, with Milneburg Hall and Liberal Arts Building closed and plans to demolish Milneburg Hall[3]