Louisiana State University And Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana State University admits 74% of applicants, meaning roughly 3 in 4 applicants receive an offer of admission. This places LSU in the moderately selective range, making it accessible to most qualified students while maintaining academic standards.

The peer median admission rate of 78.1% indicates LSU is slightly more selective than typical institutions of similar scale and mission, accepting about 4 percentage points fewer applicants than comparable universities. This level of selectivity creates favorable conditions for most serious applicants, particularly those with solid academic preparation matching the university's standards.

Students should approach LSU as a realistic target school rather than a reach, though competitive programs like engineering may have higher internal admission standards. The moderately selective admission rate allows LSU to maintain academic quality while fulfilling its public mission of serving Louisiana residents and qualified out-of-state students.

For prospective applicants, this selectivity level means that strong high school performance, rather than exceptional credentials, typically suffices for admission consideration. Students building college lists should view LSU as a solid foundation choice that combines accessibility with strong post-graduation outcomes, particularly for those interested in engineering, business, or agricultural programs where the university demonstrates exceptional strength.

Louisiana State University's published cost of attendance is $34,328 per year, including $28,631 in out-of-state tuition (or $11,954 for Louisiana residents), $14,296 for room and board, and $1,084 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays $20,015 after financial aid, representing savings of $14,313 from the sticker price.

This net price places LSU $4,425 below the peer median of $15,590, making it more affordable than typical institutions of similar scale and mission. The university's financial aid effectively reduces costs for most students, though the benefit varies significantly by family income level.

For Louisiana residents, the in-state tuition advantage creates substantial savings compared to out-of-state students, with in-state tuition of $11,954 representing $16,677 less than the out-of-state rate. The combination of moderate sticker prices and meaningful financial aid creates accessible higher education for most Louisiana families, while out-of-state families should carefully evaluate the net price relative to their income level and alternative options in their home states.

LSU graduates demonstrate steady earnings growth over their early career trajectory. Median earnings rise from $49,218 six years after enrollment to $54,621 at eight years and $61,251 at ten years, representing 24.4% growth from the six-year mark.

These outcomes are based on a ten-year cohort of 4,860 graduates, providing high confidence in the reported figures across the university's diverse academic portfolio. The earnings trajectory shows consistent upward momentum, with graduates gaining $12,033 in median earnings between years six and ten.

Low-income graduates earn $63,700, actually exceeding the overall median by $2,449, indicating that the university supports strong outcomes for students from lower-income backgrounds. Earnings span from $39,003 at the 25th percentile to $90,619 at the 75th percentile, reflecting differences in program choice and post-graduation career paths.

Approximately 24.7% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both immediate workforce entry and advanced education. The substantial cohort sizes across multiple years demonstrate LSU's scale and consistency in producing graduates with measurable economic outcomes.

LSU offers 20 bachelor's degree programs with sufficient federal earnings data for comprehensive analysis. Chemical Engineering ranks #6 nationally and #1 in Louisiana, producing 127 graduates with exceptional median earnings of $99,522 and a value score of 95.9.

Construction Management ranks #4 nationally and #1 in Louisiana, graduating 172 students with median earnings of $83,839. Mechanical Engineering ranks #19 nationally and #1 in Louisiana, with 163 graduates earning $92,171 and achieving a value score of 91.9.

Agricultural Teacher Education stands out with a #4 national ranking and #1 state ranking, graduating 351 students with median earnings of $51,713 and the highest value score of 97.8. Business Administration ranks #92 nationally but #1 in Louisiana, representing the university's largest high-earning program with 257 graduates and median earnings of $60,921.

Digital Marketing ranks #57 nationally and #1 in Louisiana, graduating 236 students with median earnings of $57,006. These programs demonstrate LSU's particular strength in engineering, construction, business, and agricultural fields, with multiple programs achieving top-tier rankings both nationally and within Louisiana.