Southern University at New Orleans is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in New Orleans, Louisiana. It enrolls 1,055 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
50/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes2
Value33
Affordability74
Selectivity24
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 78.9%, Southern University at New Orleans is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
78.9%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
820 – 1050
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
15 – 20
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Southern University at New Orleans is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
0.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Southern University at New Orleans isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $14,810 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$14,810
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
42%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
39%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$8,054
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$16,954
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,337
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,337
Books & Supplies
$1,353
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$6,167
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,167
Total Cost of Attendance
$23,905
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$7,32925%percentile
$31,000Medianpercentile
$33,75075%percentile
$45,94190%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,214
↓ $10,786
No Pell $12,846
↓ $18,154
Dependent students $16,000
↓ $15,000
Independent students $24,022
↓ $6,978
Female students $20,166
↓ $10,834
Male students $18,250
↓ $12,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $11,250, less than completers ($31,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
36% of full-time students who enrolled at Southern University at New Orleans graduate within six years, and 50% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
36%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
50%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Southern University at New Orleans earn a median of $34,042 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$34,042
Earning > $25K
56%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$29,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$36,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $6,100, about 17% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Declining: debt management worsening over time ↓
13.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 60% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Southern University at New Orleans is home to 1,055 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 50% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,055
Part-Time
15%
First-Generation
50%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 89.7%946
Other 3.5%37
Hispanic 2.9%31
White 2.4%25
International 1.3%14
Asian 0.1%1
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Southern University at New Orleans. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityNew Orleans, Louisiana
Housing
Mostly residential672 beds on campus
Adult Learners
33%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
What You Can Study
Southern University at New Orleans offers
a varied set of programs:
20 distinct programs across
13 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Southern University at New Orleans is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,693
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$3.3M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$63,311
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
86 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
21
24%
$76,731
Associate Professors
32
37%
$60,998
Assistant Professors
26
30%
$56,565
Instructors
7
8%
$55,476
Pros & Cons of Southern University at New Orleans
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Southern University at New Orleans tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Higher than typical student debt at graduation
Best for:
Based on the data, Southern University at New Orleans is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Southern University at New Orleans
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Southern University at New Orleans.
Is Southern University at New Orleans hard to get into?
Southern University at New Orleans has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 78.9%.
What is the acceptance rate at Southern University at New Orleans?
Southern University at New Orleans has an acceptance rate of 78.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Southern University at New Orleans?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Southern University at New Orleans scored between 820 and 1050 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Southern University at New Orleans?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Southern University at New Orleans scored between 15 and 20 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Southern University at New Orleans cost?
The average net price after aid at Southern University at New Orleans is $14,810 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Southern University at New Orleans worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $34,042 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,810 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Southern University at New Orleans known for?
Southern University at New Orleans is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Psychology, Social Work. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Southern University at New Orleans graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Southern University at New Orleans are $34,042, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Southern University at New Orleans accredited?
Yes. Southern University at New Orleans is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Southern University at New Orleans?
Southern University at New Orleans enrolls 1,055 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Southern University at New Orleans?
Southern University at New Orleans graduates 36% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Southern University at New Orleans a public or private college?
Southern University at New Orleans is a Public institution.
Where is Southern University at New Orleans located?
Southern University at New Orleans is located in New Orleans, Louisiana.
What programs does Southern University at New Orleans offer?
Southern University at New Orleans offers 20 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Psychology, Social Work.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Southern University at New Orleans?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Southern University at New Orleans is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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