Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Public · Moderately Selective · LA

Photo: davidpinter (CC BY 3.0)

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationLA · South

SettingUrban

Undergrads30,594

Student:faculty21:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate47.5%

6-yr grad rate68.8%

Drop-out rate15.3%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$12k

Out-of-state tuition$29k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity42.5%

Gender diversity56.6%

International1.4%

Identity—

Overview

LSU, Louisiana's flagship land-grant university in Baton Rouge, pairs serious research strength with one of the most passionate game-day cultures in American college sports. The Italian Renaissance-style campus, with its live oaks, lakes, and Memorial Tower campanile, sits along the Mississippi River near the state capitol, and the live tiger mascot tradition and Tiger Stadium's "Death Valley" nickname give it a distinct identity that blends Southern collegiate spirit with genuine academic depth.

Academics

Petroleum engineering, agriculture, and coastal and environmental science are particular strengths, reflecting Louisiana's energy economy and its direct exposure to coastal erosion and wetland issues that few other universities study as closely. The Manship School of Mass Communication and the Paul M. Hebert Law Center are both respected beyond the state, and the E. J. Ourso College of Business rounds out a solid set of professional programs. LSU's research profile is bolstered by its Sea Grant and land-grant designations, which fund applied coastal and agricultural research reaching well beyond campus into the state's fisheries and farming communities. The Ogden Honors College offers smaller classes and priority access for students who want that on top of a large-university setting.

Campus & student life

Baton Rouge gives LSU a capital-city setting with a classic Southern flagship social scene, and Tiger Stadium, known as Death Valley, anchors a football culture that dominates fall semesters, complete with Mike the Tiger residing in his own habitat near the stadium on game days. Greek life, SEC athletics generally, and campus traditions are all central to the student experience, and the campus's lakes and live oaks give it a genuinely attractive, walkable core despite its large size.

Getting in

LSU's process is fairly straightforward and stats-driven for in-state applicants, with somewhat more competitive standards for out-of-state students and for honors college admission specifically. The university has worked to raise its academic profile over the past decade, and merit scholarships tied to test scores and class rank play a significant role in what students end up paying, especially for strong in-state students.

After graduation

LSU is a major feeder into Louisiana's energy, law, and government sectors, with an alumni network that is deeply loyal and concentrated in the Gulf South, reinforced by the intensity of its athletics-driven school spirit. Petroleum and chemical engineering graduates in particular have strong, direct pipelines into the state's refining and energy corridor along the Mississippi River.

Worth knowing

Football season genuinely reshapes campus life for weeks at a time, which some students love and others find overwhelming; game days are a campus-wide event, not a niche activity. Louisiana's in-state tuition advantages and LSU's merit scholarships make it a common, cost-effective choice for strong in-state students who might otherwise look at pricier out-of-state flagships.

lsu.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate73.3%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1180–1340 · ACT 24–30

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying (2026-27 cycle)

Apply through Common App.

Priority / scholarshipDec 1

LSU uses a single Common Application that doubles as the merit-scholarship application, so applying by the priority deadline -- rather than the later regular deadline -- gives you the fullest scholarship consideration.

Verified from the school’s admissions pages ↗