University of New Orleans admits approximately 66.8% of applicants, meaning roughly 2 in 3 applicants receive offers of admission. This places UNO in the moderately selective category, with admission rates between 50-75%. The peer median admission rate of 84.6% indicates that University of New Orleans maintains more selective standards than typical public institutions in similar categories. This 17.8 percentage point difference suggests the university attracts competitive applicant pools while remaining accessible to a broad range of students. The selectivity level reflects UNO's commitment to maintaining academic standards while serving diverse student populations, including significant numbers of first-generation and transfer students. Prospective students should view University of New Orleans as a realistic option with manageable admission requirements, though applicants should still present competitive academic profiles. The moderate selectivity allows the university to enroll students with varied preparation levels while maintaining degree completion outcomes that exceed expectations for similar institutions.
A directional estimate — not a prediction
Students enrolled at University of New Orleans typically score between 960 and 1,320 on the SAT, with a median of 1,056. The middle 50% range shows Math scores from 490 to 670 and Verbal scores from 470 to 650. On the ACT, enrolled students score between 17 and 23, with a median of 21. These scores place University of New Orleans at the 88th percentile nationally for both SAT and ACT performance, indicating well above average academic preparation among enrolled students. Compared to peer institutions with a median SAT of 1,090, UNO students score 34 points lower, though this difference remains within typical variation ranges. The test score ranges indicate that students scoring within the 960-1,320 SAT range or 17-23 ACT range are academically competitive for admission. Students scoring below the 25th percentile should expect to be at a competitive disadvantage but are not automatically excluded, particularly if other application components demonstrate college readiness. The relatively wide score ranges suggest the university evaluates applicants holistically, considering factors beyond standardized test performance when making admission decisions.
Understanding institutional priorities and student support
University of New Orleans enrolls a diverse student body with 40.4% receiving Pell grants, indicating students from lower-income families represent a significant portion of enrollment. First-generation college students comprise 40.6% of enrolled students, demonstrating the university's role in expanding educational access. Transfer students represent 28.3% of enrollment, reflecting UNO's commitment to serving students who begin their higher education elsewhere. This composition indicates that University of New Orleans prioritizes educational access alongside academic preparation, creating pathways for students from varied backgrounds. The substantial Pell and first-generation shares place UNO well above many institutions in terms of socioeconomic diversity. Students from lower-income families should recognize that over 40% of their potential peers share similar financial backgrounds. First-generation students will find extensive peer support given the large representation of students navigating college as the first in their families. The significant transfer population suggests strong support systems for students continuing their education at UNO after starting elsewhere.
With University of New Orleans' 66.8% acceptance rate, most qualified applicants should expect realistic admission chances, though building a balanced college list remains important.
Schools with comparable admission profiles — useful for building a balanced list.
University of New Orleans retains 70.2% of freshmen for sophomore year, compared to a peer median of 73.2%. The university graduates 42.5% of students within six years, while the peer median reaches 49.3%. Notably, Pell-eligible students graduate at a 45.8% rate, creating a positive 3.3 percentage point gap compared to the overall completion rate. This reverse gap indicates that lower-income students actually achieve higher graduation rates than the general student population, suggesting strong institutional support for students with financial need. The positive Pell gap is unusual among higher education institutions and demonstrates University of New Orleans' effectiveness in supporting students who might face additional challenges to degree completion. Students who gain admission can expect institutional commitment to their success, with particular strength in supporting first-generation and lower-income students. Prospective students should view the positive Pell gap as evidence of dedicated support systems and programs designed to help students overcome financial and academic barriers to graduation.
Similar quality tier (#246 ranked)
Higher acceptance rates with similar career outcomes.
Similar quality tier (#240 ranked)
Similar quality tier (#247 ranked)
Similar quality tier (#253 ranked)
Similar quality tier (#226 ranked)
Build a balanced list with schools at different selectivity and price points.
Explore More Schools