
Loyola University New Orleans is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, commonly called SACSCOC, to award degrees. Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it is distinct from any specialized accreditation attached to an individual program.
For students, institutional accreditation matters because it is one condition of participation in federal student-aid programs and is often considered when another college evaluates transfer credit. It does not require another institution to accept a particular course. Applicants to regulated professions should also verify their specific program's current specialized accreditation and whether it meets the licensing rules of the state where they intend to work.
First-year applicants generally apply with a secondary-school record and evidence of high school completion or an accepted equivalent. Loyola considers academic performance and requires recommendations in its reported admissions criteria. It does not have an open-admission policy: meeting basic application requirements is not the same as an offer of admission.
SAT and ACT scores are neither required nor recommended in the reported admissions criteria. Among enrolled first-time students, ACT submissions were more common than SAT submissions, but that pattern is not a testing requirement. Applicants whose first language is not English should check the university's current English-proficiency rules, including accepted examinations and any exemption criteria. Some academic programs may also request an audition, portfolio, or other demonstration of preparation.
In the reported first-year admissions cycle, Loyola admitted about 93% of applicants. That figure describes one past applicant pool; it does not predict an individual's decision. Applicants should confirm the deadline and document checklist for their entry term and applicant category before submitting.
Applicants should check the fee displayed in Loyola's current application before submission, because application charges and waiver procedures can differ by applicant category and application route. An application fee is separate from an enrollment deposit or any later tuition charge.
Students seeking a fee waiver should ask admissions about eligibility and the required request method before submitting a paid application. Transfer, graduate, law, and other professional applicants should use the instructions for their own application rather than assume that an undergraduate fee or waiver rule applies to them.
Loyola students have reported access to Army, Air Force, and Navy ROTC through cooperating host institutions, rather than through Loyola-operated branch units on its campus. Participation therefore requires coordinating Loyola coursework with the host program's training schedule and cross-enrollment procedures.
ROTC participation, scholarship eligibility, and a later military service obligation are related but separate questions. Interested students should speak with the relevant host detachment or battalion before planning a course schedule, particularly if their major has fixed labs, clinical placements, or performance commitments.
Loyola accepts transfer applicants and generally considers credit earned at other accredited institutions. Transfer entry is reported for fall, spring, and summer terms. Applicants should submit the required application and official records from every college attended, then check whether a high school record is required for their circumstances.
Admission and credit acceptance are separate decisions. Even an accepted course may satisfy an elective requirement rather than a particular major requirement. Loyola also reports accepting certain examination and evaluated-learning credits, including CLEP, DSST/DANTES, and ACE-recommended credit; the amount and applicability depend on university and program rules. Before enrolling, a transfer applicant should request an official evaluation showing how previous work applies to the intended degree and how many Loyola credits remain.
Loyola offers international education opportunities that can include semester-length study and shorter programs. The appropriate option depends on a student's major, language preparation, schedule, and the approved programs available for the intended term.
Prospective participants should seek academic approval before committing to a program. That step establishes how courses will count toward Loyola requirements, which is especially important for sequenced majors. Students should also ask the study-abroad and financial-aid offices how institutional aid, federal aid, program charges, travel, and insurance apply to a specific university-sponsored or outside program; the rules need not be identical.
12% of admitted students enrolled (579 of 4,783)
Early Decision
NoEarly Action
Yes, deadline November 15Percent of students submitting ACT scores
40%Percent of students submitting SAT scores
6%High school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredComputer required
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
RequiredAdmission test scores
Neither required nor recommendedTOEFL (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
YesAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesOrientation program
YesDisabilities services
YesROTC-Army
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionROTC-Navy
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionROTC-Air Force
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionStudy abroad
YesWeekend/evening college
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
NoPreparation 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.