Louisiana State University (LSU) Tuition and Fees

By Susan Guillory

(Last Updated – 05/2023)

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 Flores online MBA program was ranked #1 in Louisiana by Online MBA Report in 2022. So what does it cost to attend this institution? LSU tuition for the 2023-24 school year is $11,954 for in-state students, and out-of-state tuition is $28,631. Compare this to the national averages for public four-year schools of $10,940 for in-state students and $28,240 for out-of-state students.

Estimated Costs for 2023-24

Financial Aid

For the 2020-21 school year, 95% 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 31% of the students took out federal student loans, just 4% took out private student loans, with an average loan amount of $19,954.

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 2023-24 rates, would be $140,632 for in-state and $207,344 for out-of-state. In comparison, the average total cost for four years for a public university in the U.S. is $111,760.

Get Louisiana Student Loan & Scholarship Information here.

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

Estimated Costs for 2023-24

Students who graduated from high schools in Louisiana pay $11,954 for LSU tuition and $14,236 for room and board in 2023-24, for a total of $26,190. Those who come from other states pay $28,635 for tuition and $14,236 for room and board, for a total of $42,867.

Graduate Tuition and Fees

Estimated Costs for 2023-24

In-state students interested in graduate school at LSU pay $12,534 for tuition in 2023-24, while out-of-state students pay $29,450. There are graduate loans available to help with these costs.

To compare, it costs on average $29,150 for a Master’s degree at a four-year public institution in the U.S.

Campus Housing Expenses

Estimated Costs for 2023-24

*Starting rate for a 1 bedroom, based on available apartments on LSU’s off-campus housing website in 2023.

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 resources to learn more about off-campus housing.

LSU Acceptance Rate

Fall 2022

The LSU acceptance rate is high. Of the number of students who apply, 76% 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 a test-optional institution. 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. 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 2021-22: 348

2. 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 2021-22: 334

3. Mass Communication

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

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 288

4. 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 2021-22: 232

5. Business Administration

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 2021-22: 221

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 2021-22: 199

7. 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 2021-22: 190

8. Sport and Fitness Administration

This program teaches you the fundamentals behind managing the ever-evolving sport industry through hands-on experience. Students can concentrate in either sport commerce or sport leadership.

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 164

9. Interdisciplinary Studies

This program is meant for driven, independent, and creative students who think outside of the box. This degree allows you to design your own program at LSU to best fit your professional needs and helps you become an innovative problem-solver in organizations.

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 151

10. Sociology

If you are intrigued by the patterns of human behavior, a sociology degree may be a good option. LSU sociology students learn how society functions and how individuals function within a society. Some students also concentrate in criminology.

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 149

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

Graduation Rate

How many students at LSU graduate in six years? Here’s data on the graduation rate for students who started in 2016.

•  6 years: 69.8%

Post-Graduation Median Earnings

After completing an undergraduate degree at LSU, students can earn, on average, $59,454 per year. This is above the U.S. median of $55,260 per year for college graduates.