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Southern University and A & M College

Public Baton Rouge, LA · Urban · Southeast · 100% data reported · Agent Insights · Claim Your School's Profile ➜
28%
Graduation Rate
$43,371
Earnings (10yr)
$20,077
Net Price
35%
Acceptance Rate
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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, Engineering

Why students choose Southern University and A & M College

Research-intensive environment
Active labs and research-active faculty
HBCU community
A historically Black college with a strong leadership pipeline
Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C-
Top 60% overall
C+
Earnings
$43,371 median
C-
Value
2.2× net price
C-
Affordability
$20,077/yr net
F
Graduation
28% graduate
A
Selectivity
35% admit rate
F
Diversity
0.11 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

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

1

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.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

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 applicants selectively, with an acceptance rate near 35%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 942. The school reports a graduation rate of 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
2

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

When weighing the true cost of attending Southern University and A & M College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $17,272 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $20,077 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $19,047 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $29,251.

$9,922
In-State Tuition
$17,272
Out-of-State
$20,077
Avg Net Price
$29,251
Median Debt
68%
Pell Grant Rate
72%
Federal Loan Rate

What Families Actually Pay

$19,047
Family Income $0–$30K
$19,395
Family Income $30K–$48K
$22,288
Family Income $48K–$75K
$26,069
Family Income $110K+
3

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

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; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.

$33,033
6 Years After Entry
$38,628
8 Years
$43,371
10 Years
0.67x
Debt-to-Earnings
51%
Earning > $25K

Earnings Trajectory

$33,033 6yr $38,628 8yr $43,371 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

9%
100% (82)
9%
100% (82)
9%
100% (82)
9%
100% (82)

How Southern Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation28%Earnings 10yr$43KNet Price$20KRetention60%Median Debt$29KPell Grant Rate68%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$19K$0-30K$19K$30-48K$22K$48-75K$26K$110K+

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.

$80,308
Total Cost (4yr)
$1,248,410
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,168,102
Net Return
15.5×
ROI Multiple
$20,077
Cost Per Year
$29,251
Median Debt
Less than 1 yr
Debt Payback
28%
Graduation Rate
4

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.08 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.08), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

1.08
Economic Connectedness
Cross-class friendships
-0.08
Friending Bias
Lower = more inclusive
2.5%
Volunteering Rate
0.99
Support Ratio
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
Total Expenses
Federal Grants
$-3,100,810
Investment Income

Top Programs

The fields Southern University and A & M College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

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 applicants selectively, with an acceptance rate near 35%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 942. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 28%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Southern University and A & M College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +

When weighing the true cost of attending Southern University and A & M College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $17,272 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $20,077 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $19,047 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $29,251.

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; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.

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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.08 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.08), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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