By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News
PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) – Louisiana Christian University has been named the safest college campus and the best value in the state of Louisiana by Niche.com.
Niche.com released its 2025 list of Best Colleges last week. Niche.com is a rating and review website for facets of the college experience.
In the last several years, LCU has committed to providing an increasingly safe campus for students, faculty, staff and visitors. Three Homeland Security grants awarded to LCU have allowed for additional campus lighting and surveillance.
“Over the last five years, LCU has invested over $450,000 in safety and security upgrades thanks to grants from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness through our FEMA partners,” said Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Henry O. Robertson. “Additional funding through the Union Pacific Railroad Foundation has provided key components for enhancing our abilities to deter, detect and defend the campus community. We are honored that the investments, training and care LCU has placed as a strategic priority are recognized by a national organization. Our students are always number one with all our safety and security enhancements.”
LCU also has a K9 officer certified in the detection of illegal narcotics and tracking.
According to Chief of Safety and Security John Dauzat, the purpose of adding a K9 officer to the security team was all about being proactive to keep the campus safer and drug-free.
“Not only have the students become more aware about the deterrent of narcotics, but also the increased safety presence,” Dauzat said.
“Providing the safest campus possible is our primary focus,” Dauzat said. “We have made great strides in the last several years to prevent some of the issues that other campuses have faced, and we will continue to be proactive.”
According to niche.com, its safety rating is based on campus crime rate, local crime rate, as well as student surveys regarding health and safety services on campus.
The Best Values College ranking is based on net price, alumni earnings, graduation rates, and student debt using data from the U.S. Department of Education along with millions of reviews from students and alumni.
