Southern University and A & M College
#9 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Louisiana- Graduation Rate
- 28% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $43,371 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $20,077 C-
- 17% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 35% A
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 15.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.5 over 20 years. Ranked #9 in Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Louisiana.
Every $1 spent returns $15.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,168,102.
What The Data Says
-
A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Graduation of 28% — 51% below the national average.
-
Every $1 invested returns $15.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Southern University and A & M College Matters
Southern University and A & M College is a public research university in Baton Rouge, LA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base and an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 5,519
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HBCU
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice, Psychology
Why students choose Southern University and A & M College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 35% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 790–1020. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $20,077 a year after grants and scholarships — 17% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $43,371 ten years after enrolling — 6% above the typical college, against $29,251 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.08 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Southern University and A & M College has an enrollment of about 5,519 students, making it a manageable size for those who appreciate a close-knit environment. It attracts individuals interested in fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice, Engineering, and Psychology. The acceptance rate of 35% suggests that the school looks for committed students ready to engage deeply with their studies.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $43,371 within ten years, which provides a decent starting point for many. While the graduation rate sits at 28%, it’s important to consider that a significant portion of the student body receives Pell Grants, indicating a strong commitment to supporting low-income students. This financial assistance can help ease the transition into the workforce after college.
Looking at the financial side, the net price after aid is approximately $20,077, which can be manageable compared to other institutions. However, the median debt stands at $29,251, so it’s wise for students to consider their borrowing carefully. Those who tend to thrive here are often driven individuals who make the most of the resources available and are committed to their educational journey.
Rankings
- #9 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Louisiana
- #10 Best HBCUs for Engineering
- #10 Best HBCUs for Mechanical Engineering
- #10 Best HBCUs for Electrical Engineering
- #10 Best HBCUs for Civil Engineering
- #10 Best Computer Science Colleges in Louisiana
- #10 Best Data Science Colleges in Louisiana
- #13 Best Nursing Colleges in Louisiana
Can I Get In?
How selective Southern University and A & M College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Southern University and A & M College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Southern University and A & M College, located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 35%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 942. The graduation rate is roughly 28%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 35%
- Retention Rate
- 60%
- SAT Average
- 942
- ACT Midpoint
- 17
- SAT Range
- 790–1020
- ACT Range
- 15–19
- Full-Time Faculty
- 99%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,735
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 18:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.11
- First-Gen Students
- 40%
- Applicants
- 10,609
- Admitted
- 5,718
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Southern University and A & M College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Southern University and A & M College is $17,272, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $20,077. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $19,047 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $29,251 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $9,922
- Out-of-State
- $17,272
- Avg Net Price
- $20,077
- Median Debt
- $29,251
- Pell Grant Rate
- 68%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 72%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $19,047
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $19,395
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $22,288
- Family Income $110K+
- $26,069
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Southern University and A & M College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Southern University and A & M College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Southern University and A & M College report median earnings of $43,371, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $33,033
- 8 Years
- $38,628
- 10 Years
- $43,371
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.67x
- Earning > $25K
- 51%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (82)
- 9%
- 100% (82)
- 9%
- 100% (82)
- 9%
- 100% (82)
- 9%
How Southern Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Southern University and A & M College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Southern University and A & M College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $20,077/year ($80,308 total). Graduates earn $43,371 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,248,410 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,168,102 (15.5× your investment). The median debt is $29,251, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 28% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $80,308
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,248,410
- Net Return
- $1,168,102
- ROI Multiple
- 15.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $20,077
- Median Debt
- $29,251
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 28%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-3,100,810
Top Programs
The fields Southern University and A & M College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 26% $73,744 early-career
- Business & Marketing 11% $44,210 early-career
- Criminal Justice 11% $32,725 early-career
- Psychology 10% $28,326 early-career
- Social Sciences 5% $28,644 early-career
- Engineering 5% $61,913 early-career
- Communications 4% $31,037 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 3% $38,476 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Southern University and A & M College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Southern University and A & M College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Southern University and A & M College, located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 35%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 942. The graduation rate is roughly 28%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Southern University and A & M College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Southern University and A & M College is $17,272, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $20,077. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $19,047 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $29,251 in federal student loans.
Is Southern University and A & M College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Southern University and A & M College report median earnings of $43,371, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Southern University and A & M College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Southern University and A & M College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.08, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.08), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Southern University and A & M College.
- Grambling State UniversityGrambling, LA · Close peer34% grad $41,109 earn 45% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Regent UniversityVirginia Beach, VA · Close peer56% grad $44,498 earn 38% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Alabama A & M UniversityNormal, AL · Close peer26% grad $40,628 earn 58% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Arkansas at Little RockLittle Rock, AR · Close peer42% grad $45,265 earn 59% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- University of West AlabamaLivingston, AL · Close peer36% grad $44,232 earn 43% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Huston-Tillotson UniversityAustin, TX · Close peer35% grad $42,937 earn 39% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Southern University and A & M College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Southern University and A & M College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.08, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.08), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note