Southern University Admissions

ACT Scores, Acceptance Rate, Financial Aid, Graduation Rate & More

Southern University Dancing Dolls and Human Jukebox Marching Band
Southern University Dancing Dolls and Human Jukebox Marching Band. JMRosenfeld / Flickr
by Allen Grove
Dr. Allen Grove is an Alfred University English professor and a college admissions expert with 20 years of experience helping students transition to college.
Updated November 10, 2017

Southern University Admissions Overview:

Southern University admits almost all applicants each year, an encouraging statistic for interested students. Applicants with solid grades (a GPA of 2.0 or higher) and test scores within or above the ranges listed below have a good chance of being accepted. To apply, prospective students will need to submit high school transcripts and SAT or ACT scores. If you have any questions about the admissions process, fee free to get in touch with someone from the admissions office at Southern for assistance.

Admissions Data (2016):

Southern University Description:

Southern University and A & M College is a historically black university located on a 512-acre campus in Baton Rouge, the capital city of Louisiana. The campus sits on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. Founded in 1880, Southern University has grown into a comprehensive university that now offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in fields ranging from art to engineering (nursing is the most popular undergraduate major). Academics are supported by a 16 to 1 student / faculty ratio. Student life is active with hundreds of programs every year in the student union, and the highly regarded Southern University Marching Band and Dancing Dolls have traveled extensively. On the athletic front, the Southern University Jaguars compete in the NCAA Division I Southwestern Athletic Conference. The university fields 14 Division I teams.

Enrollment (2016):

  • Total Enrollment: 5,877 (4,926 undergraduates)
  • Gender Breakdown: 35% Male / 65% Female
  • 88% Full-time

Costs (2016 - 17):

  • Tuition and Fees: $9,332 (in-state), $19,332 (out-of-state)
  • Books: $1,240 (why so much?)
  • Room and Board: $8,370
  • Other Expenses: $3,386
  • Total Cost: $22,328 (in-state), $32,328 (out-of-state)

Southern University Financial Aid (2015 - 16):

  • Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 98%
  • Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
    • Grants: 90%
    • Loans: 86%
  • Average Amount of Aid
    • Grants: $7,403
    • Loans: $6,215

Academic Programs:

  • Most Popular Majors: Accounting, Biology, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Family and Consumer Sciences, Mass Communications, Nursing, Psychology, Rehabilitation Services, Therapeutic Recreation and Leisure Studies

Retention and Graduation Rates:

  • First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 62%
  • 4-Year Graduation Rate: 7%
  • 6-Year Graduation Rate: 29%

Intercollegiate Athletic Programs:

  • Men's Sports: Football, Baseball, Basketball, Track and Field, Cross Country
  • Women's Sports: Basketball, Bowling, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball, Track and Field, Tennis

Data Source:

National Center for Educational Statistics

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