Southern University and A & M College
Baton Rouge, LA 70813
About Southern University and A & M College
Southern University and A & M College is a public research university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, serving roughly 5,519 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 35.12% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $47,186 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Southern University and A & M College charges 75% above the national public median tuition ($9,958).
- Versus the Louisiana median, sticker tuition is 5% above.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 27.89%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $47,186.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Southern University and A & M College is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 533% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern University and A & M College | $9,958 | $18,631 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,700 | — | 1,692 |
| Louisiana (state median) | $9,472 | $11,450 | 49 |
| Suburban (locale median) | $13,274 | $18,692 | 686 |
| United States (national median) | $12,200 | $17,569 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Southern University and A & M College really?
Key findings
- Southern University and A & M College charges 75% above the national public median tuition ($9,958).
- Versus the Louisiana median, sticker tuition is 5% above.
Southern University and A & M College tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $9,958
Finding Southern University and A & M College charges 75% above the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $9,958. That is 75% above the national public median ($5,700). Versus the Louisiana median ($9,472), sticker tuition is 5% above. Versus the U.S. median ($12,200), sticker is 18% below.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Southern University and A & M College versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Southern University and A & M College versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Southern University and A & M College is $18,631.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $18,631 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $7,181 above the Louisiana median net price. Versus suburban campuses, net price runs $62 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Southern University and A & M College, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Southern University and A & M College: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Southern University and A & M College—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$9,958
Out-of-state tuition
$17,308
Avg. net price
$18,631
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $18,614 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $16,350 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $18,195 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $23,454 |
| $110,001+ | $26,328 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $39,832. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Southern University and A & M College is known for
Top program completions
- Law247
- Business Administration and Management, General122
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies113
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse111
- Computer Science96
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Selective — about half of applicants (or fewer) are admitted.
- Yield: 28% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 942
- Midpoint ACT: 17
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Southern University and A & M College a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Southern University and A & M College is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Southern University and A & M College.
Campus
Location
Baton Rouge, LA
City / state
- ZIP
- 70813
- NCES locale
- Suburb
Compared with Suburban campuses nationally, net price is at the median for Suburban campuses ($18,692 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Southeast
- Carnegie
- Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Size
Enrollment
5,519
Undergraduates (fall)
- Undergraduates (full year)
- 6,785
- Graduate
- 1,414
- Full-time share
- 90%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$28,750
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 71.61%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Southern University and A & M College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Southern University and A & M College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Southern University and A & M College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $6,630 | $8,274 | $11,312 |
| 2014 | $6,630 | $8,274 | $12,106 |
| 2015 | $7,346 | $17,696 | $12,666 |
| 2016 | $9,332 | $19,332 | $13,118 |
| 2017 | $8,666 | $18,080 | $14,259 |
| 2018 | $9,122 | $16,472 | $16,579 |
| 2019 | $9,141 | $16,491 | $16,312 |
| 2020 | $9,340 | $16,720 | $17,104 |
| 2021 | $9,842 | $17,192 | $16,991 |
| 2022 | $9,940 | $17,198 | $17,701 |
| 2023 | $9,940 | $17,198 | $19,740 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 942 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 17 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.20
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Southern University and A & M College reported total enrollment of about 5,519 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 33% male and 67% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Black or African American (94.2%), Two or More Races (1.7%), and Race/ethnicity unknown (1.5%). About 71.61% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 39.7% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
90.4% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Southern University and A & M College in 2024 is 5,519 students.
Over a full year, about 6,785 undergraduates enroll. Graduate enrollment is about 1,414 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
60.3%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
8.74% 100% Completion Time
27.89% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 8.74% of students graduating from Southern University and A & M College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Law: 35% male / 65% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 39% male / 61% female
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies: 28% male / 72% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Southern University and A & M College graduates earn a median of $47,186 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Southern University and A & M College.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $47,186. Median federal loan debt: $28,750. Average net price used in cost models: $18,631.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Southern University and A & M College graduates report median earnings of $47,186 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Southern University and A & M College.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (40 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Southern University and A & M College.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Southern University and A & M College graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Southern University and A & M College—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$12M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Louisiana median 0.71× the median ($16.9M)
- Southeast median 0.62× the median ($19.4M)
- U.S. median 0.46× the median ($26.4M)
- Louisiana median 0.56× the median ($3,294)
- Southeast median 0.20× the median ($9,308)
- U.S. median 0.15× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 99.1%
- Louisiana median 35.9 pp above median (63.2%)
- Southeast median 39.6 pp above median (59.4%)
- U.S. median 41.1 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $7,735
- Louisiana median 1.1× the median ($6,824)
- Southeast median 1.1× the median ($6,825)
- U.S. median near the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $5,687
- Louisiana median near the median ($5,480)
- Southeast median 0.86× the median ($6,602)
- U.S. median 0.78× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Southern University and A & M College at a glance
Southern University and A & M College
Southern University and A & M College is a public institution in Baton Rouge, LA, classified as Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- LawBusiness Administration and Management, GeneralCriminal Justice/Safety Studies
- Largest enrollment groups
- Black or African American94.2%Two or More Races1.7%Race/ethnicity unknown1.5%
Schools near Southern University and A & M College
Other campuses in Baton Rouge, LA when available, plus nearby institutions in Louisiana.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within Louisiana, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Southern University and A & M College located?
Southern University and A & M College is located in Baton Rouge, LA.
What is Southern University and A & M College's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Southern University and A & M College is 35.1% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 12,221 applicants and 6,095 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Southern University and A & M College's tuition?
Southern University and A & M College tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $9,958 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $18,631 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Southern University and A & M College cost?
Reported tuition is $9,958 and average net price is $18,631 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $8,018 annually.
What explains Southern University and A & M College's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($18,631), completion (27.9% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($47,186). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Southern University and A & M College?
Southern University and A & M College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 6,785 students, Black or African American (94.2%), Two or More Races (1.7%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Southern University and A & M College?
About 39.7% of students at Southern University and A & M College are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Southern University and A & M College?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Southern University and A & M College reports midpoint SAT about 942 and midpoint ACT about 17.
What do graduates of Southern University and A & M College earn?
Median earnings are $39,501 six years after entry and $47,186 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Southern University and A & M College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 27.9% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Southern University and A & M College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $28,750.
Is Southern University and A & M College public or private?
Southern University and A & M College is a public institution located in Baton Rouge, LA.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.