Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College — College Profile

About

As Louisiana’s flagship public research university, Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge is widely recognized for powerhouse programs in petroleum and biological engineering, coastal ecology, business, and journalism through the prestigious Manship School of Mass Communication. Campus culture is famously vibrant and spirited, deeply connected to passionate SEC athletics in Tiger Stadium and celebrated through lively Louisiana culinary and cultural traditions. The scenic campus is distinguished by its Italian Renaissance-style architecture and moss-draped live oaks, as well as its iconic live Bengal tiger mascot, Mike VII, who lives in a dedicated on-campus habitat.

Wikipedia:Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, commonly referred to as Louisiana State University (LSU), is an American public land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States. The university was founded in 1860 near Pineville, Louisiana, under the name Louisiana State Seminary of Learning & Military Academy. The current LSU main campus was dedicated in 1926 and consists of more than 250 buildings constructed in the style of Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, occupying a 650-acre (260 ha) plateau on the banks of the Mississippi River.

Location

Baton Rouge, LA, 70803-2750 · City campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

MSY · New Orleans

62 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$11,954$28,631

Housing & food (on campus)$15,142$15,142

Books & supplies$1,084$1,084

Cost of attendance$34,705$56,122

Average net price$19,151Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$28,631

In-state: $11,954

Housing & food (on campus)$15,142

Books & supplies$1,084

Cost of attendance$56,122

In-state: $34,705

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $19,151

Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.lsu.edu

How it’s made up · out-of-state, 2026-27

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College’s own figures for 2026-27, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.

Tuition$29,562

Housing$10,300

Food$5,584

Books & supplies$1,020

Personal expenses$6,320

Transportation$3,336

Total published by the school$56,122

Source: www.lsu.edu · checked Sep 13, 2026

Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24

$0–30k

$13,056

$30–48k

$15,696

$48–75k

$20,223

$75–110k

$23,878

$110k+

$26,489

Your family's actual price → Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

70%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

47%

Back for yr 2

85%

Transferred

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

71% graduated · 22% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 7% left or unknown

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$49,218

10 yrs after entry$61,251

Debt

Median at graduation$20,500

Monthly payment$217

Middle 50% owe$5.5k–$25.1k

90th percentile$31,000

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

73%

Test policy

Test optional

Checked Sep 2026

SAT average

1285

R 600–680 · M 580–660

ACT midpoint

Comp 24–30 · E 24–32 · M 23–28

SAT middle 50%: 1180–1340

40080012001600

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Essay prompts

If Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 43%Women 57%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

21 : 1

Pell grant

27%

First-gen

27%

Family income

$55,214

Independent

Veterans

Age at entry

20.0

Part-time

Race & ethnicity

White

57%

Hispanic

11%

Black

21%

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division I-FBS · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Beach Volleyball
Women's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's · Women's
Gymnastics
Women's
Soccer
Women's
Softball
Women's
Swimming and Diving (combined)
Men's · Women's
Tennis
Men's · Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$49,218

After 10 yrs

$61,251

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas376

Biology, General368

Communication and Media Studies313

Business Administration, Management and Operations225

Psychology, General219

Marketing212

Construction Management180

Political Science and Government165

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness159

Computer Science147

Sociology147

Finance and Financial Management Services133

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other127

Accounting and Related Services119

Mechanical Engineering111

Fine and Studio Arts110

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$723M

Full-time faculty

88%

Faculty salary

$11,474/mo

Teaching spend

$10,884

per student

Federal loans

30%

Classification

Carnegie type

Doctoral University

Research activity

R1 — very high research

$431M research spending · 323 research doctorates a year

Undergraduate profile