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Southern University at New Orleans
Most applicants get into Southern University at New Orleans — 78.9% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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Southern University at New Orleans sits in New Orleans proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. It is one of the nation's historically Black colleges and universities, a designation that shapes both its history and its present mission.
Its highest-earning path is Social Work, where graduates median $49,709 four years out. Faculty pay averages $82,776 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 1,055 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 52% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 14 and 18 on the ACT composite. Put your own practice estimate on Southern University at New Orleans's range with the ACT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Southern University at New Orleans is test-optional — scores count when submitted, none required. Southern University at New Orleans's submitters' middle half scored 14–18 on the ACT; read that as the stronger-tester end of the admitted class.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Composite | 14 | 16 | 18 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Southern University at New Orleans received 2,920 applications and admitted 1,758 (60.2%), with 154 enrolling.
How Southern University at New Orleans compares
| Southern University at New Orleans | Louisiana median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 78.9% | 78.3% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $8,054 | $10,272 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $34,042 | $47,477 | $53,781 |
Ten years out, Southern University at New Orleans's median earnings are $34,042 — below the Louisiana benchmark of $47,477. Weigh that against the $8,054 price above; the by-major table shows majors drive much of this gap.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, Southern University at New Orleans prices by residency: $8,054 in-state versus $16,954 out-of-state — a $8,900 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
With 1,055 undergraduates, Southern University at New Orleans is small enough that class size and faculty access are structural, not marketing claims.
Fewer than half of Southern University at New Orleans students — 13.1% — finish within six years. That number should shape how much debt feels safe.
Top majors by earnings at Southern University at New Orleans
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Social Work | $49,709 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $47,390 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $44,788 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $44,723 |
| Biology, General | $44,350 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $44,226 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $42,068 |
| Psychology, General | $39,139 |
Median earnings for these 8 Southern University at New Orleans programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $34,042 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 12 additional Southern University at New Orleans programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Southern University at New Orleans?
The middle 50% of Southern University at New Orleans's submitters earned ACT composites of 14–18; no GPA cutoff is published.
What is Southern University at New Orleans's acceptance rate?
60.2% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 1,758 admitted from 2,920 applicants.
How much does Southern University at New Orleans cost?
In-state tuition is $8,054; out-of-state students pay $16,954. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Southern University at New Orleans graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $34,042 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Louisiana
- Xavier University of Louisiana — 69% admitted
- University of Holy Cross — 73.7% admitted
- University of Louisiana at Monroe — 84.8% admitted
- University of New Orleans — 74.3% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.