Louisiana State University (LSU) Tuition and Fees

By Susan Guillory

(Last Updated – 06/2022)

Total Cost of Attendance

Louisiana State University, located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a comprehensive school, offering a wide variety of programs to study. Its School of Theatre was ranked the number two BA program in the US in 2018-19. So what does it cost to attend this institution? LSU tuition for the 2021-22 school year was $11,958 for in-state students, and LSU out of state tuition was $28,635. Compare this to the national averages for public four-year schools of $10,740 for in-state students and $27,560 for out-of-state students.

Costs for 2021-22

Financial Aid

For the 2019-20 school year, 98% of students at Louisiana State University received some form of financial aid, which includes student loans, scholarships, and grants to help with LSU tuition.

Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need and merit. Students that qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs like tuition, books, and living expenses.

The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, and nonprofits. The different types include:

•  Scholarships: These can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, and financial need.

•  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, and non-profit organizations.

•  Work-study: This federal program provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

•  Federal student loans: This is money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. It comes with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than private loans.

Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state and federal and school deadlines may differ.

You can find other financial aid opportunities on databases such as:

•  US Department of Education – Search for grants from colleges and universities by state

•  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) – A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

Recommended: The Differences Between Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

Private Student Loans

While 34% of the students took out federal student loans, just 4% took out private student loans, with an average loan amount of $17,946.

Private loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or state-affiliated organizations. While Federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.

What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school, compared to federal student loans which you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for as it generally may have better rates and terms.

If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school throughout the year, private loans can potentially help you make your payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

Recommended: Guide to Private Student Loans

Projected 4-Year-Degree Price

The price for LSU tuition, room and board, books, and other fees for four years, based on the 2021-22 rates, would be $135,344 for in-state and $202,052 for out-of-state. The total cost per year for a public university in the U.S. averages $26,820 per year, which is $107,280 for four years.

Get Louisiana Student Loan & Scholarship Information here.

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

Costs for 2021-22

Students who graduated from high schools in Louisiana paid $11,958 for LSU tuition and $13,154 for room and board in 2021-22, for a total of $25,112. Those who came from other states paid $28,635 for tuition and $13,154 for room and board, for a total of $41,789.

Graduate Tuition and Fees

Costs for 2021-22

Students interested in graduate school at LSU, whether they were from in-state or out-of-state, paid $9,132 for tuition in 2021-22. The big discrepancy was in fees: in-state students paid just $3,899 in fees, while out-of-state students paid $20,834. There are graduate loans available to help with these costs.

To compare, it costs on average $54,500 for a Master’s degree at a four-year public institution in the U.S.

Cost per Credit Hour

If you’re interested in attending LSU part-time, you would pay $197.10 per credit hour.

Campus Housing Expenses

Costs for 2021-22

*Based on 1 bedroom pricing. Average rate based on available apartments on LSU’s off-campus housing website in 2022.

All first-year students must live on campus at LSU. There are both residence halls and residential colleges to choose from. The residential colleges consist of smaller communities of students who have common majors or interests.

Upperclassmen can opt to live off campus, and there are properties available through LSU’s off-campus living website.

Find out about off-campus housing resource to learn more about off-campus housing.

LSU Acceptance Rate

Fall 2020

The LSU acceptance rate is high. Of the number of students who apply, 73% are accepted.

Admission Requirements

Here’s what you need to apply to attend LSU:

Required:

•  Academic record

•  Letters of recommendation

•  Secondary school GPA

Recommended:

•  SAT or ACT scores

You can apply to LSU here .

SAT and ACT Scores

Louisiana State University is test-optional for the 2022 enrollment year. Here are the test scores for the 25th and 75th percentile:

Popular Majors at LSU

LSU offers more than 330 fields to study. To help you narrow it down, here’s a look at the most popular majors.

1. Biology

A degree in biology prepares students for careers as environmental scientists, conservationists, medical professionals, and more. There is an optional concentration available in marine biology.

Undergraduate degrees in 2020-21: 313

2. Physical Education and Coaching

If the idea of becoming a coach, personal trainer, or physical therapist appeals to you, consider LSU’s physical education and coaching program. You’ll learn about kinesiology, health, and human performance.

Undergraduate degrees in 2020-21: 338

3. Mass Communication

Students interested in communication can choose from these concentrations: digital advertising, journalism, political communication, and public relations.

Undergraduate degrees in 2020-21: 247

4. Marketing

Not only do marketing students have the opportunity to travel to Europe and learn marketing best practices at international firms, but they can also focus their studies on professional sales, digital marketing, or marketing analytics.

Undergraduate degrees in 2020-21: 220

5. Business

LSU offers a robust degree in business, providing students with a solid foundation in accounting, economics, finance, information systems, and decision sciences, management, and marketing.

Undergraduate degrees in 2020-21: 190

6. Psychology

If you’re interested in human behavior, a degree in psychology might be a good fit. It can prepare you for a career as a counselor, school psychologist, crisis worker, or mental health advocate.

Undergraduate degrees in 2020-21: 187

7. Construction Management

Construction management majors will learn aspects of both business and engineering with coursework in estimating/budgeting, contract law, construction methods and materials, scheduling, safety, and effective communication.

Undergraduate degrees in 2020-21: 180

8. Political Science

Political science is a diverse field of study, and students have the option to concentrate on American government and politics, comparative government and politics, international politics and law, and law and legal systems, among others.

Undergraduate degrees in 2020-21: 152

9. Chemical Engineering

After getting a foundation in chemistry, students of chemical engineering will study thermodynamics, material and energy balances, reaction engineering, momentum transfer, and more.

Undergraduate degrees in 2020-21: 130

10. Mechanical Engineering

LSU has a well-respected mechanical engineering program. You can study engineering, mathematics, physics, and materials science in order to learn how to analyze, design, manufacture, operate, and maintain equipment and machinery.

Undergraduate degrees in 2020-21: 121

To find out more about the majors LSU offers, check out this resource .

Graduation Rate

How many students at LSU graduate in four or six years? Here’s data on the graduation rate for students who started in 2014.

•  4 years: 39%

•  6 years: 66%

Post-Graduation Median Earnings

After completing an undergraduate degree at LSU, students can earn, on average, $56,806 per year. This is above the median for four-year public schools of $47,891 per year.