Louisiana · Getting in
Most selective colleges in Louisiana
The short answer
The most selective four-year colleges in Louisiana are Tulane (14% admitted), Southern University and A&M College (35% admitted) and Dillard University (42% admitted), by acceptance rate.
Selective here means a low acceptance rate: the share of applicants the college admitted. A low rate says how many people a college turns away, not how good a fit it is for you. Each row also shows the average price after grants.
The list (11 of 22)
Four-year colleges in Louisiana with 500 or more undergraduates, lowest acceptance rate first. The list shows 11 of the 22 colleges with an acceptance rate on file. Rates come from IPEDS (fall 2024) for 10 colleges and each college's own Common Data Set (fall 2025) for 1 college.
- Tulane University 14% admitted New Orleans, LA · Average price after grants: $40,693 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Southern University and A&M College 35% admitted Baton Rouge, LA · Average price after grants: $18,631 a year in-state, about $25,981 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Dillard University 42% admitted New Orleans, LA · Average price after grants: $26,363 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Grambling State University 45% admitted Grambling, LA · Average price after grants: $19,214 a year in-state, about $28,226 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Louisiana State University-Shreveport 51% admitted Shreveport, LA · Average price after grants: $11,101 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Centenary College of Louisiana 56% admitted Shreveport, LA · Average price after grants: $25,053 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Xavier University of Louisiana 69% admitted New Orleans, LA · Average price after grants: $19,722 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- LSU 73% admitted Baton Rouge, LA · Average price after grants: $19,286 a year in-state, about $35,963 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- University of New Orleans 74% admitted New Orleans, LA · Average price after grants: $7,761 a year in-state, about $12,597 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Louisiana Christian University 77% admitted Pineville, LA · Average price after grants: $20,268 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- McNeese State University 78% admitted Lake Charles, LA · Average price after grants: $11,228 a year in-state, about $12,728 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
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What are the most selective colleges in Louisiana?
The most selective four-year colleges in Louisiana are Tulane (14% admitted), Southern University and A&M College (35% admitted) and Dillard University (42% admitted), by acceptance rate.
How many colleges on this list admit fewer than half of applicants?
4 of the 11 colleges listed admitted fewer than half of their applicants.
How recent are these acceptance rates?
Each row shows its year. Rates come from IPEDS, the federal college survey, for students who applied for fall 2024, or from the college's own Common Data Set for fall 2025 where that is newer.
Numbers change each year when colleges and the Department of Education publish new data. Confirm costs and admission rules with the college before you apply.