Calculate schools. Win a $500+ scholarship. Free to enter. Every calculation is a ticket.Enter free →
Moderately selective2026-2027 admissions cycle

Louisiana State University acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

Louisiana State University, a public university in Louisiana, reports a 73% acceptance rate and sits in the moderately selective band. In practice that means it admits more applicants than it rejects, so a strong application is judged against an applicant pool that is already self-selected.

Your odds at Louisiana State University
Three numbers, no account, the same published model the full calculator runs.

Use this page to see what Louisiana State University weighs, where it ranks among Louisiana schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1290, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
73%
Moderately selective
SAT middle 50%
1180-1340
of admitted students
Type
Public
Baton Rouge, LA
Average net price
$19,151
per year after aid

What do students study at Louisiana State University?

Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.

Business, Management and Marketing · 1,154 (21.6%)Engineering · 526 (9.8%)Education · 483 (9%)Biological and Biomedical Sciences · 448 (8.4%)Social Sciences · 415 (7.8%)Communication and Journalism · 332 (6.2%)Psychology · 283 (5.3%)Multi and Interdisciplinary Studies · 256 (4.8%)Visual and Performing Arts · 245 (4.6%)Parks, Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies · 206 (3.9%)Agriculture and Agricultural Operations · 166 (3.1%)Computer and Information Sciences · 155 (2.9%)

Will I get into Louisiana State University?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Louisiana State University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Louisiana State University?

Your odds at Louisiana State University are not the same as its 73% acceptance rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Louisiana State University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Louisiana State University hard to get into?

Louisiana State University is moderately selective: it admits more applicants than it rejects, with about a 73% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Louisiana State University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Louisiana State University, but admitted students often present roughly a 3.2 to 3.7 GPA. Louisiana State University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

Calculate your chances at Louisiana State University →

Your chances at Louisiana State University by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Louisiana State University for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).

What are my chances at Louisiana State University with a 3.1 GPA and a 1260 SAT?

About 93% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.1 unweighted GPA and a 1260 SAT, the middle of Louisiana State University's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.4 GPA with a 1340 SAT comes out near 98%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.

Estimated admission chance at Louisiana State University by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 118025th pctSAT 1260middleSAT 134075th pctNo testtest-optional
2.540%Target55%Likely70%Safety36%Target
2.867%Likely79%Safety88%Safety70%Safety
3.187%Safety93%Safety96%Safety91%Safety
3.495%Safety97%Safety98%Safety98%Safety

Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/louisiana-state-university.

How to get into Louisiana State University

Built from Louisiana State University's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.

There is no formula that guarantees a spot at Louisiana State University, but the applicants who get in tend to do the same four things. Here is what the numbers say each one looks like.

Step 1
Match the typical admit on the transcript

CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at Louisiana State University carries about a 3.20 core GPA and a 1290 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.

Step 2
Decide on scores with the real range

The admitted middle 50% is 1180 to 1340 SAT (24 to 30 ACT). Submit a score at 1260 or higher; below 1180, apply test-optional if the policy allows.

Step 3
Build the file around what Louisiana State University weighs

Louisiana State University rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.

Step 4
Apply in the round that helps

Most public universities read early applicants first without a binding commitment. Apply by Louisiana State University's early or priority deadline (confirm dates at www.lsu.edu), and if you are out of state, know that residency changes both the bar and the price.

See your odds and your top moves at Louisiana State University →Add it to your college list →Official site: www.lsu.edu ↗

How many students apply to Louisiana State University, and how many get in?

Louisiana State University admitted 31,491 of the 42,558 students who applied for fall 2023, which works out to 74%. 7,521 enrolled. Only about 24% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. Louisiana State University enrolls about 30,594 undergraduates in total, 57% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 21 to 1.

Applied
42,558
fall 2023
Admitted
31,491
74% of applicants
Enrolled
7,521
24% yield
Undergraduates
30,594
Baton Rouge, midsize city

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.

What SAT and ACT scores do you need for Louisiana State University?

Admitted students at Louisiana State University post SAT scores of 1180 to 1340 in the middle 50%, with an average of 1285. On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 24 to 30. A score above 1340 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1180 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. Louisiana State University is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.

SAT middle 50%
1180-1340
average 1285
ACT middle 50%
24-30
of admitted students
Test scores
Test-optional
admissions policy

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.

What Louisiana State University looks for

What Louisiana State University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

The factors that carry the most weight at Louisiana State University are rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Louisiana State University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Considered
Recommendations
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
First-generation status
Considered
State residency
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Louisiana State University

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Louisiana State University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300In the competitive admitted range
1200Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
1100Well below the admitted range
Colleges for a 1290 SAT →Colleges for a 27 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How much does Louisiana State University cost after financial aid?

The full sticker price at Louisiana State University (tuition, fees, housing, food, books) is about $34,705 a year. Tuition and fees are $11,954 for LA residents and $28,631 for out-of-state students, a $16,677 gap that makes residency the single biggest lever on cost. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $19,151 a year, and it ranges from $13,056 for families earning under $30,000 to $26,489 for families earning over $110,000. 27% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$34,705
per year, before aid
Average net price
$19,151
after grants and scholarships
In-state tuition
$11,954
$28,631 out of state
Pell recipients
27%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$13,056
$30k to $48k$15,696
$48k to $75k$20,223
$75k to $110k$23,878
Over $110k$26,489

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.

What do Louisiana State University graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Median earnings for Louisiana State University students ten years after entry are $61,251 ($49,218 at the six-year mark). 69% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 85% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $20,500; 30% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$61,251
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
69%
within six years
Retention
85%
return for year two
Median debt
$20,500
at graduation, borrowers

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.

How Louisiana State University compares in Louisiana

Louisiana State University ranks #6 most selective of 19 schools in Louisiana in our database.

Among the 19 Louisiana schools we track, Louisiana State University ranks #6 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Tulane University (14%) and Southern University (35%) sit nearby, which makes Louisiana a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.

Tulane University
14%acceptance · LA
Southern University
35%acceptance · LA
Dillard University
42%acceptance · LA
Grambling State University
45%acceptance · LA
Xavier University of Louisiana
69%acceptance · LA
University of New Orleans
74%acceptance · LA
Louisiana Christian University
77%acceptance · LA
McNeese State University
78%acceptance · LA
See all Louisiana schools →

Similar to Louisiana State University

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Applicants targeting Louisiana State University often weigh Texas Tech University, Buffalo State University, and Missouri S&T, which sit at a similar level. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Texas Tech University
73%acceptance · TX
Buffalo State University
73%acceptance · NY
Missouri S&T
73%acceptance · MO
USC Beaufort
73%acceptance · SC
IU Northwest
73%acceptance · IN
New College of Florida
73%acceptance · FL

Frequently asked questions

What is Louisiana State University's acceptance rate?

Louisiana State University admitted 31,491 of 42,558 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 74% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 24% of admitted students enrolled.

What SAT score do you need for Louisiana State University?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1180 to 1340 on the SAT and 24 to 30 on the ACT. A score above 1340 is in the top quarter of admits. Louisiana State University is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.

Is Louisiana State University test-optional?

Yes. Louisiana State University reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.

How much does Louisiana State University cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Louisiana State University, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $19,151 a year against a sticker price of about $34,705. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $13,056 on average.

What do Louisiana State University graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Louisiana State University are $61,251 a year among students who received federal aid, and 69% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

What does Louisiana State University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Louisiana State University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Louisiana State University favor in-state applicants?

As a public university, Louisiana State University generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.

How can I improve my chances at Louisiana State University?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Louisiana State University specifically.

What are the admission requirements for Louisiana State University?

Louisiana State University reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.