Private · New Orleans, LA · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

Tulane University

Tulane is a private R1 research university in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is the most selective university in the state, with strong programs in public health, business, architecture, and the liberal arts.

  • Need-blind admissions for all U.S. and Canadian applicants
  • Meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all four years
  • Louisiana TOPS scholarship stacks with Tulane grants for in-state students
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Acceptance rate
13%
Undergrad enrollment
7,060
Institution type
Private research
State
Louisiana

Type

Private university

Location

New Orleans, LA

Acceptance rate

13%

Undergrad enrollment

7,060

Tulane University is a private R1 research university in uptown New Orleans. It enrolls about 7,000 undergraduates across five schools — Architecture, Business, Liberal Arts, Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and Science and Engineering — and is the most selective university in Louisiana.

For 2026–27, Tulane's published tuition and fees are about $67,000, and the total cost of attendance with housing and a meal plan reaches roughly $90,000. Despite the headline price, Tulane is need-blind in admissions and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted undergraduates — using grants, not loans, in the standard package.

Louisiana residents who qualify for the state's TOPS scholarship can stack TOPS with Tulane institutional aid, often covering a large share of tuition. Out-of-state and international students rely on Tulane institutional grants and federal aid. The average net price for first-year students who receive aid is around $25,000 per year.

Tuition & fees

$64,044

Total cost of attendance

$86,746

Tuition + housing + food + transport + other

Net price (after avg aid)

$48,746

After $38,000 average grant aid

Show full cost breakdown
CategoryAmount
Tuition and fees$64,044
Housing$10,568
Food and meal plan$6,944
Transportation$1,200
Books and other$3,990
Total annual cost$86,746
Need-blind (domestic)
Meets full need (domestic)
—Need-blind (international)
—Meets full need (international)
FAFSA eligible
State scholarship eligible

Tulane meets 100% of demonstrated need for U.S. students and is need-blind for domestic applicants.

  • Tulane University Grant

    Typical award: $40,000 / yr

  • Dean's Honor Scholarship

    Typical award: $32,000 / yr

  • Louisiana TOPS

    Typical award: $5,000 / yr

  • Architecture (5-yr BArch)

    Bachelor's

    Top-ranked Tulane School of Architecture with preservation and urban design concentrations.

    Program page

  • Public Health (BS)

    Bachelor's

    Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine — only US school of tropical medicine.

    Program page

  • Business (BSM)

    Bachelor's

    Freeman School — top-ranked undergraduate business with strong finance and marketing tracks.

    Program page

  • Computer Science (BS)

    Bachelor's

    Joint with School of Liberal Arts. AI, systems, and data science concentrations.

    Program page

  • Political Science (BA)

    Bachelor's

    Strong pre-law track. Law school placement in the top 20.

    Program page

  • Neuroscience (BS)

    Bachelor's

    Pre-med track with strong research placement in the School of Medicine.

    Program page

Regular decision deadline

January 15 (Regular Decision)

Early: November 1 (Early Action); November 1 (Early Decision I); January 1 (Early Decision II)

Application

Common App accepted

Apply now

GPA (middle 50%)

3.8 – 4.3 weighted

Test policy

SAT 1470

ACT 32

  • “Picking Tulane over bigger architecture schools was the best decision. Studio culture is supportive, not cutthroat. I have my master's offer in hand from Columbia.”

    Senior, Architecture

  • “I'm the first in my family to go to college. TOPS paid for tuition and Tulane covered the rest with grants. I graduate debt-free and pre-med ready.”

    Junior, Public Health

  • “Freeman has the strongest alumni network of any school I applied to. I had internship offers at three New York banks by junior year.”

    Sophomore, Business

6-year grad rate

91%

Median starting salary

$64,500

10-year ROI (net)

$268,000

Top-paying majors

  • Computer Science$112,800
  • Finance$88,400
  • Economics$82,600
  • Public Health (Pre-Med)$76,800
  • Architecture$64,200

Where grads go: Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Pfizer, EY, Shell, Accenture.

SchoolTuitionTypeWhy compare
Tulane University$64,044PrivateYou are here
Rice UniversityOpen the calculator—Selective Southern private with similar cost and meet-full-need model.
Washington University in St. LouisOpen the calculator—Comparable selective private research profile in the region.
Loyola University New OrleansOpen the calculator—Local private alternative in the same city at lower cost.

Open the calculator, add Tulane and one of the peers above, and the cost engine will fill in tuition, net price, and your loan gap automatically.

How much is Tulane tuition in 2026–27?

For 2026–27, Tulane's published tuition and fees are approximately $67,000. With on-campus housing and a standard meal plan, the total cost of attendance is around $90,000 per year.

Is Tulane need-blind?

Yes. Tulane is need-blind in admissions for all U.S. and Canadian applicants and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted undergraduates. The standard aid package uses grants and work-study, with no required loan component.

What is the average net price at Tulane?

After need-based grants, the average net price for first-time undergraduates who receive aid is roughly $25,000 per year. About 70% of incoming first-year students receive Tulane grant aid, and the average grant award is over $55,000.

Can TOPS stack with Tulane aid?

Yes. Louisiana residents who qualify for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) can use TOPS alongside Tulane institutional grants. The TOPS award typically covers a portion of tuition, and Tulane's institutional grant covers the remaining demonstrated need, leaving most low- and middle-income Louisiana students with little out-of-pocket cost.

Does Tulane require the SAT or ACT?

Tulane is test-optional for first-year applicants. Students may submit SAT or ACT scores if they believe it strengthens their application, but scores are not required. Test-optional status is reviewed yearly — verify on Tulane's admissions page before you apply.

What GPA do you need for Tulane?

There is no published minimum GPA. The middle-50% of admitted first-year students fall between a 3.8 and a 4.3 weighted GPA and between 1410 and 1530 on the SAT. Tulane reviews applications holistically and considers context, including the rigor of your high school.

Compare Tulane aid packages with current students and families

If you got a Tulane aid package, share the COA, the grant amount, your family income bracket, and whether you also received TOPS. This helps future applicants calibrate expectations.

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Reviewed by Geek College Editorial Team. First published 2026-04-28. Last reviewed 2026-07-10.