McNeese State University, a respected regional university in the South, is located in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Established by the Louisiana Legislature in 1938, the university opened its doors on September 11, 1939. Initially named Lake Charles Junior College and a division of Louisiana State University, it began with 140 students and three buildings.
The institution’s name evolved, becoming John McNeese Junior College the following fall to honor John McNeese, a prominent Southwest Louisiana educator and the first school superintendent in Imperial Calcasieu Parish. By 1950, McNeese achieved four-year college status under the Louisiana Board of Education, gaining accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges in 1954. The university officially became McNeese State University in 1970.
The McNeese campus in Lake Charles encompasses a 122-acre main campus and the 65-acre Doland Athletics Complex, home to the Legacy Center. Additional facilities include the Southwest Louisiana Entrepreneurial and Economic Development Center, the Center for Advancement of Meat Production and Processing, and KBYS 88.3 FM Radio Station. Furthermore, McNeese manages three working farms spanning over 1,200 acres for research, farming, and ranching purposes.
The main campus boasts over 50 buildings, including the original Kaufman Hall, Ralph O. Ward Memorial Gym (the Arena), and Francis G. Bulber Auditorium. The Bulber Auditorium stands out as an Art Deco architectural gem, recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.
For over eight decades, McNeese State University has solidified its reputation as a leading regional university in the Southern United States. It serves a diverse student body from Louisiana, across the nation, and from over 50 countries worldwide, fostering a dynamic and student-focused academic environment in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
