Tulane University of Louisiana: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
New Orleans, Louisiana · Private nonprofit · Highly selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- Early Decision
- Early Decision II
- Early Action
- 32,942
- Applicants
- 4,763
- Admitted14%
- 1,858
- Enrolled
- 39%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Highly selective14% admittedRanked #59 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #119 (tie), Business Programs #39 (tie), Economics #97 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Tulane University of Louisiana (see the source), read on 2026-09-24.
Is Tulane University of Louisiana a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Tulane University of Louisiana against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Tulane University of Louisiana is a private nonprofit university in New Orleans, Louisiana that admits about 14% of applicants, making it a highly selective school. The average family pays about $39,949 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Psychology, General, Finance and Financial Management Services and Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 87% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 9.8 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Tulane University of Louisiana is a private institution located in New Orleans, Louisiana and one of the highly selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Tulane University of Louisiana admits between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 14%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1460 and an ACT composite around 32. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $39,949 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Tulane University of Louisiana?
77% of enrolled students at Tulane University of Louisiana had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.67, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
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What does Tulane University of Louisiana weight in admissions?
Tulane University of Louisiana reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
5- Rigor of secondary school record
- Class rank
- Academic GPA
- Extracurricular activities
- Volunteer work
Important
6- Standardized test scores
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
- Level of applicant's interest
Considered
5- Talent/ability
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Work experience
Not Considered
2- Interview
- Religious affiliation/commitment
SAT and ACT scores Tulane University of Louisiana typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 700–770, with an EBRW midpoint near 710. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 31–34. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.
| 25th percentile | 1430 |
| 50th percentile | 1460 |
| 75th percentile | 1500 |
| % submitting SAT | 11% |
| 25th percentile | 32 |
| 50th percentile | 33 |
| 75th percentile | 34 |
| % submitting ACT | 27% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • SAT/ACT not required but considered; Tulane encourages submitting above ~1300 SAT / 28 ACT, and for merit scholarships.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Tulane University of Louisiana's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 53% |
| Top 25% of class | 80% |
| Top 50% of class | 95% |
| % submitting class rank | 20% |
How much does Tulane University of Louisiana actually cost?
Published tuition is $68,678 for in-state students and $68,678 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $18,868 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $39,949 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 10% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $67,592 |
| Room and board | $19,630 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $39,949 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 94% |
| Average need-based grant | $64,125 |
| Average merit award, no financial need518 first-year students received one | $19,636 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 26% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $38,066 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA and CSS Profile (incl. noncustodial parent)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $0 |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Tulane University of Louisiana
| Regular deadline | 1/15 |
| Notification date | 4/1 |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | November 1 |
| Offers Early Decision II | Yes |
| ED II deadline | January 15 |
| ED acceptance rate (all rounds) | 58% |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 10 |
Will my child graduate from Tulane University of Louisiana?
These predict outcomes at Tulane University of Louisiana better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Tulane University of Louisiana
The most popular undergraduate programs at Tulane University of Louisiana, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Psychology, General, Finance and Financial Management Services and Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other. Across all programs, Tulane University of Louisiana confers roughly 1,473 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Psychology, General program report a median income of about $64,103 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General | 251 | $64,103 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 249 | $109,495 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | 179 | $73,281 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 176 | $55,703 |
| Political Science and Government | 166 | $68,622 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 157 | $105,134 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 149 | $69,033 |
| Economics | 146 | $89,211 |
Is Tulane University of Louisiana safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Tulane University of Louisiana disclosed 76 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 9.8 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 25 violent offenses and 32 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Tulane University of Louisiana?
About 57% of undergraduates at Tulane University of Louisiana live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 27% of men join a fraternity and 56% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
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Next steps for Tulane University of Louisiana
Common questions parents ask about Tulane University of Louisiana
What GPA do I need for Tulane University of Louisiana?
77% of enrolled students at Tulane University of Louisiana had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.67, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Tulane University of Louisiana typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 700–770, with an EBRW midpoint near 710. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 31–34.
How much does Tulane University of Louisiana actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Tulane University of Louisiana after grants and scholarships is $39,949 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $68,678. Budget against the net figure.
Is Tulane University of Louisiana realistic for my child?
Tulane University of Louisiana admits 14% of applicants, so 700–770 SAT Math is target range and below 700 is a reach. Then check the $39,949 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Tulane University of Louisiana?
Tulane University of Louisiana accepts about 14% of applicants out of roughly 32,942 who apply each year. That makes it a highly selective school.
Is Tulane University of Louisiana test-optional?
Yes. Tulane University of Louisiana is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Tulane University of Louisiana?
About 87% of students at Tulane University of Louisiana graduate within six years, and 79% finish in four years. 93% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Tulane University of Louisiana?
Tulane University of Louisiana's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 58%, compared with its overall rate of 14%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.
What does Tulane University of Louisiana look for in applicants?
Tulane University of Louisiana rates course rigor, class rank, GPA and extracurricular activities as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Tulane University of Louisiana a public or private school, and where is it located?
Tulane University of Louisiana is a private nonprofit institution located in New Orleans, Louisiana.
What are the most popular majors at Tulane University of Louisiana?
The largest undergraduate majors at Tulane University of Louisiana by annual graduates are Psychology, General, Finance and Financial Management Services and Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other. The school awards about 1,473 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Tulane University of Louisiana safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Tulane University of Louisiana reported 76 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 9.8 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Tulane University of Louisiana?
At Tulane University of Louisiana, 57% of undergraduates live on campus, 27% of men are in fraternities, 56% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Tulane University of Louisiana, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers