Tulane University of Louisiana
#6 Colleges With the Biggest Early Decision Advantage- Graduation Rate
- 88% A
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $63,268 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $39,949 F
- 133% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 14% A
- Rejects about 86 of every 100 applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 10.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $10.7 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Colleges With the Biggest Early Decision Advantage.
Every $1 spent returns $10.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,544,627.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduates earn 55% more than the national college median.
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A 88% graduation rate — 53% above the national average.
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Admits just 14% of applicants — one of the most selective institutions in the country.
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Every $1 invested returns $10.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Tulane University of Louisiana Matters
Tulane University of Louisiana is a private research university in New Orleans, LA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by exceptional admissions selectivity, a top-tier research enterprise, and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 7,767
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology
Why students choose Tulane University of Louisiana
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
Highly selective — admits about 14% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1400–1520. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $39,949 a year after grants and scholarships — 133% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $63,268 ten years after enrolling — 55% above the typical college, against $20,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.72 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of just 14%, Tulane University attracts motivated and ambitious students who are ready to engage deeply in their education. This school is particularly well-suited for those interested in Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology, and Health Professions. The vibrant atmosphere of New Orleans adds a unique backdrop to the academic experience, allowing students to connect their classroom learning to real-world applications in a culturally rich environment.
When it comes to life after graduation, Tulane graduates can expect to earn an average of $63,268 within ten years of completing their degree. This earning potential reflects the solid foundation students receive, especially in fields that are in high demand. Affordability is a consideration here, too, as the net price after aid stands at $39,949, making it accessible for many students. While only 10% of students receive Pell Grants, this indicates that a significant number of students are navigating the costs with other forms of financial support.
Looking at the practical side, the median debt for a Tulane graduate is $20,500, which is manageable compared to the earnings potential. Students who thrive here typically have a strong academic background and a clear sense of purpose regarding their career paths. This focus on professional readiness, coupled with the supportive community, helps students make the most of their time at Tulane and set themselves up for success after graduation.
Rankings
- #6 Colleges With the Biggest Early Decision Advantage
- #9 Best Business Colleges in Louisiana
- #11 Best Bachelor's Programs in Louisiana
- #11 Best Master's Programs in Louisiana
- #12 Best Biology Colleges in Louisiana
- #13 Best Colleges in Louisiana
- #14 Best Online Colleges in Louisiana
- #14 Best Nursing Colleges in Louisiana
Can I Get In?
How selective Tulane University of Louisiana 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 Tulane University of Louisiana? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Tulane University of Louisiana, located in New Orleans, Louisiana, sets a competitive bar: about 14% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,448. The graduation rate is roughly 88%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 14%
- Retention Rate
- 93%
- SAT Average
- 1448
- ACT Midpoint
- 32
- SAT Range
- 1400–1520
- ACT Range
- 31–34
- Full-Time Faculty
- 69%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $13,243
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 8:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.56
- First-Gen Students
- 18%
- Applicants
- 31,615
- Admitted
- 3,621
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2025-26
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Tulane University of Louisiana is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 39% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school many admits weigh against other offers.
- Yield Rate
- 39%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 11%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 27%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Early Decision Admit Rate
- 58.2%
- vs 14.5% overall
Applying early pays off here. Of 2,077 Early Decision applicants, 1,209 were admitted — a 58.2% admit rate, roughly 4.0× the 14.5% rate for the overall pool. That binding round alone filled about 65% of the entering class (1,209 of 1,858 first-years). The catch: Early Decision is a commitment you make before you can compare aid offers.
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 38% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
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 Tulane University of Louisiana? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Tulane University of Louisiana is $68,678, 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 $39,949. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,126 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $68,678
- Out-of-State
- $68,678
- Avg Net Price
- $39,949
- Median Debt
- $20,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 10%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 21%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $16,126
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $18,041
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $20,149
- Family Income $110K+
- $56,667
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 Tulane University of Louisiana — 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 Tulane University of Louisiana Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Tulane University of Louisiana earn a median of $63,268, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $50,220
- 8 Years
- $56,725
- 10 Years
- $63,268
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.32x
- Earning > $25K
- 75%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (1,260)
- 77%
- 100% (1,260)
- 77%
- 100% (1,260)
- 77%
- 100% (1,260)
- 77%
How Tulane 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 Tulane University of Louisiana Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Tulane University of Louisiana delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $39,949/year ($159,796 total). Graduates earn $63,268 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,704,423 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,544,627 (10.7× your investment). The median debt is $20,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 88% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $159,796
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,704,423
- Net Return
- $1,544,627
- ROI Multiple
- 10.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $39,949
- Median Debt
- $20,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 88%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Tulane University of Louisiana 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.
- Business & Marketing 30% $76,378 early-career
- Social Sciences 14% $51,709 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 10% $33,126 early-career
- Psychology 8% $42,293 early-career
- Health Professions 7% $37,207 early-career
- Communications 7% $46,678 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 4% $33,454 early-career
- Engineering 3% $82,387 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 Tulane University of Louisiana'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
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Tulane University of Louisiana? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Tulane University of Louisiana, located in New Orleans, Louisiana, sets a competitive bar: about 14% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,448. The graduation rate is roughly 88%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Tulane University of Louisiana? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Tulane University of Louisiana is $68,678, 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 $39,949. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,126 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,500 in federal student loans.
Is Tulane University of Louisiana Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Tulane University of Louisiana earn a median of $63,268, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Tulane University of Louisiana? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Tulane University of Louisiana. Its economic connectedness score is 1.72, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 13% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Tulane University of Louisiana offer Early Decision, and does it improve admission chances?
Yes. Tulane University of Louisiana offers a binding Early Decision plan, and it carries a real advantage: Early Decision applicants were admitted at 58%, about 4.0 times the overall 14% acceptance rate, and ED filled roughly 65% of the entering class. Because ED is binding, it makes sense only if Tulane University of Louisiana is a clear first choice and you can commit before comparing aid offers (2025-26 Common Data Set).
Is Tulane University of Louisiana really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 38% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at Tulane University of Louisiana (2025-26 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Tulane University of Louisiana?
About 39% of admitted students choose to enroll at Tulane University of Louisiana — its yield rate (2025-26 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Compare Tulane University of Louisiana
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Tulane University of Louisiana.
- Tufts UniversityMedford, MA · Close peer93% grad $83,214 earn 11% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of MiamiCoral Gables, FL · Close peer84% grad $75,328 earn 19% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Colorado CollegeColorado Springs, CO · Close peer87% grad $65,222 earn 18% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA · Close peer91% grad $80,137 earn 11% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Spelman CollegeAtlanta, GA · Close peer77% grad $59,993 earn 25% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Denison UniversityGranville, OH · Close peer79% grad $67,753 earn 17% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Tulane University of Louisiana? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Tulane University of Louisiana. Its economic connectedness score is 1.72, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 13% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note