


Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or SACSCOC. Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; individual programs may also hold separate professional accreditation.
Examples of fields in which applicants should check program-level recognition include engineering, business, architecture, educator preparation, law, and veterinary medicine. The relevant accreditor and its scope can differ by program, degree, and campus. Institutional accreditation is important for federal financial-aid eligibility, but it does not automatically guarantee that a particular course will transfer elsewhere or that a degree meets every state's professional licensing requirements. Students pursuing a licensed occupation should check the specific program and the licensing rules of the state where they intend to work.
First-year applicants to LSU generally submit an undergraduate application and a secondary-school transcript documenting graduation or an accepted equivalent. LSU reviews academic preparation rather than operating under an open-admission policy.
Admission records identify high school GPA and the secondary-school record as required components. Class rank may be considered but is not required. Applicants should follow the current application's instructions for recommendations and any program-specific materials rather than assuming that a recommendation, essay, audition, or portfolio has the same role for every major. Students educated outside the United States may also need to document English-language proficiency; accepted tests and possible exemptions depend on their circumstances.
SAT and ACT scores have been considered but not required in the reported admissions data. Among enrolled first-time students, 7% submitted SAT scores and 40% submitted ACT scores; those submission rates are not minimum-score requirements. LSU admitted approximately 73% of its reported first-year applicants, but that institution-wide rate does not indicate an individual applicant's chances in a particular program. Applicants should confirm the testing policy and application deadlines for their intended entry term because both can change.
LSU's reported undergraduate application fee is $50. Applicants should verify the amount shown in the application they use, particularly if they are applying from outside the United States or to a graduate or professional program, where procedures may differ.
Eligible applicants may be able to request an application-fee waiver based on financial need or another qualifying status. The practical step is to review the waiver options in the application before submitting and paying: a waiver request and a refund of a fee already paid are not necessarily the same process. An application fee is separate from any later enrollment, orientation, housing, or tuition charge.
LSU students have Army and Air Force ROTC opportunities on campus. Naval ROTC participation is also reported, but applicants should verify the current unit or cross-enrollment arrangement directly with the Naval ROTC program before planning a schedule.
ROTC combines college coursework with military training and may offer scholarships to eligible students. Scholarship selection, medical and fitness standards, citizenship rules, and service commitments depend on the branch and the student's route into the program. A student can ask the relevant ROTC unit how its classes fit an LSU degree plan before assuming that participation requires a particular major or provides automatic tuition support.
LSU admits transfer applicants and generally considers college credit earned at accredited institutions. Transfers may seek entry in fall, spring, or summer, subject to the application calendar and the requirements of their intended program.
Applicants should expect to provide official transcripts from every college attended and meet LSU's current transfer-credit and academic-standing requirements. Whether high school records are needed can depend on how much transferable college coursework an applicant has completed. CLEP credit and certain other forms of evaluated credit may be accepted under university rules, but an award of credit is distinct from admission to LSU.
Equally important, an accepted course might count as a direct major requirement, an elective, or general education credit. Students with a specific graduation timeline should compare courses with LSU's transfer-equivalency resources and request an official evaluation. Majors with separate admission or progression rules may impose additional restrictions, and transfer students must satisfy any LSU residency requirements for the degree.
LSU offers international study opportunities that can include semester or year-long study, shorter programs, and faculty-led courses. The available destinations and academic subjects vary by term.
Students should work through LSU's study-abroad advising and academic approval process before committing to a program. A program led by LSU faculty is not necessarily billed or credited the same way as an exchange or an approved external program. The important questions are whether courses will satisfy degree requirements, what the full program and travel costs are, and how existing scholarships or other aid may apply. Passport, visa, language, and application timelines can make early planning necessary.
23% of admitted students enrolled (7,925 of 34,513)
Regular application deadline
April 15Application fee
$50Early Decision
NoEarly Action
NoMedian composite SAT score
1225Median composite ACT score
26Percent of students submitting ACT scores
40%Percent of students submitting SAT scores
7%High school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredComputer required
NoComputer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution
NoSecondary school GPA
RequiredSecondary school rank
Considered but not requiredSecondary school record
RequiredCompletion of college-preparatory program
Considered but not requiredRecommendations
RequiredFormal demonstration of competencies
Neither required nor recommendedAdmission test scores
Considered but not requiredTOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language
RequiredOther Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)
Neither required nor recommendedOpen admission policy
NoDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
NoAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesOrientation program
YesDisabilities services
YesOff-campus study
YesROTC-Army
ROTC branch unit on campusROTC-Navy
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionROTC-Air Force
ROTC branch unit on campusStudy abroad
YesWeekend/evening college
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
YesPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
YesGenerally accepts credits
YesAccept ACE recommendation for credit
YesPossible transfer
Fall, Spring, SummerData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.