Southern University at New Orleans
New Orleans, LA 70126
About Southern University at New Orleans
Southern University at New Orleans is a public research university in New Orleans, Louisiana, enrolling about 1,055 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 78.90% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $34,042 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Southern University at New Orleans charges 46% above the national public median tuition ($8,054).
- Versus the Louisiana median, sticker tuition is 12% below.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 13.11%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $34,042.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Southern University at New Orleans is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 475% 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 at New Orleans | $8,054 | $14,810 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Louisiana (state median) | $9,181 | $11,456 | 48 |
| Urban (City) (locale median) | $15,200 | $20,053 | 1,346 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
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 at New Orleans really?
Key findings
- Southern University at New Orleans charges 46% above the national public median tuition ($8,054).
- Versus the Louisiana median, sticker tuition is 12% below.
Southern University at New Orleans tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $8,054
Finding Southern University at New Orleans charges 46% above the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $8,054. That is 46% above the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Louisiana median ($9,181), sticker tuition is 12% below. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 32% 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 at New Orleans versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Southern University at New Orleans versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Southern University at New Orleans is $14,810.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $14,810 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $3,354 above the Louisiana median net price. Versus urban (city) campuses, net price runs $5,243 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 at New Orleans, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Southern University at New Orleans: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Southern University at New Orleans—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
$8,054
Out-of-state tuition
$16,954
Avg. net price
$14,810
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $14,771 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $19,360 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $32,216. 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 at New Orleans is known for
Top program completions
- Social Work67
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies43
- Information Science/Studies36
- Psychology, General29
- Business Administration and Management, General25
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 9% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 944
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Southern University at New Orleans a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Southern University at New Orleans 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 at New Orleans.
Campus
Location
New Orleans, LA
City / state
- ZIP
- 70126
- NCES locale
- City
Compared with Urban (City) campuses nationally, net price is 26% below the median for Urban (City) campuses ($20,053 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Southeast
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
Size
Enrollment
1,055
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 2,931
- Graduate
- 289
- Full-time share
- 85%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$31,000
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 41.74%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Southern University at New Orleans.
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 at New Orleans 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 at New Orleans 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 | $4,911 | $4,911 | $8,474 |
| 2014 | $5,218 | $6,517 | $7,711 |
| 2015 | $5,827 | $5,827 | $5,621 |
| 2016 | $6,421 | $15,322 | $10,945 |
| 2017 | $6,421 | $15,322 | $7,335 |
| 2018 | $7,033 | $15,934 | $7,097 |
| 2019 | $7,169 | $16,070 | $7,632 |
| 2020 | $7,059 | $15,960 | $12,126 |
| 2021 | $7,059 | $15,960 | $14,301 |
| 2022 | $7,471 | $16,371 | $18,295 |
| 2023 | $7,490 | $16,390 | $15,260 |
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 has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 944 (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 at New Orleans reported total enrollment of about 1,055 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 29% male and 71% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Black or African American (89.7%), Two or More Races (3.0%), and Hispanic or Latino (2.9%). About 41.74% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 49.6% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
85.1% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Southern University at New Orleans in 2024 is 1,055 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 2,931 students. Graduate enrollment is about 289 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
52.0%
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
4.37% 100% Completion Time
13.11% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 4.37% of students graduating from Southern University at New Orleans completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Social Work: 10% male / 90% female
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies: 23% male / 77% female
- Information Science/Studies: 58% male / 42% 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 at New Orleans graduates earn a median of $34,042 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Southern University at New Orleans.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $34,042. Median federal loan debt: $31,000. Average net price used in cost models: $14,810.
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 at New Orleans graduates report median earnings of $34,042 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 at New Orleans.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (19 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Southern University at New Orleans.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Southern University at New Orleans graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Southern University at New Orleans—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$3.3M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Louisiana median 0.19× the median ($16.9M)
- Southeast median 0.17× the median ($19.4M)
- U.S. median 0.12× the median ($26.4M)
- Louisiana median 0.66× the median ($3,294)
- Southeast median 0.23× the median ($9,308)
- U.S. median 0.18× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Louisiana median 36.8 pp above median (63.2%)
- Southeast median 40.6 pp above median (59.4%)
- U.S. median 42.0 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $6,898
- Louisiana median near the median ($6,824)
- Southeast median near the median ($6,825)
- U.S. median 0.91× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $5,792
- Louisiana median 1.1× the median ($5,480)
- Southeast median 0.88× the median ($6,602)
- U.S. median 0.79× 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 at New Orleans at a glance
Southern University at New Orleans
Southern University at New Orleans is a public institution in New Orleans, LA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Social WorkCriminal Justice/Safety StudiesInformation Science/Studies
- Largest enrollment groups
- Black or African American89.7%Two or More Races3.0%Hispanic or Latino2.9%
Schools near Southern University at New Orleans
Other campuses in New Orleans, LA when available, plus nearby institutions in Louisiana.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade F) within Louisiana, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Southern University at New Orleans located?
Southern University at New Orleans is located in New Orleans, LA.
What is Southern University at New Orleans's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Southern University at New Orleans is 78.9% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 2,920 applicants and 1,758 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Southern University at New Orleans's tuition?
Southern University at New Orleans tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $8,054 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $14,810 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Southern University at New Orleans cost?
Reported tuition is $8,054 and average net price is $14,810 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $11,337 annually.
What explains Southern University at New Orleans's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($14,810), completion (13.1% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($34,042). 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 at New Orleans?
Southern University at New Orleans reports undergraduate enrollment of about 2,931 students, Black or African American (89.7%), Two or More Races (3.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Southern University at New Orleans?
About 49.6% of students at Southern University at New Orleans are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Southern University at New Orleans?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Southern University at New Orleans reports midpoint SAT about 944.
What do graduates of Southern University at New Orleans earn?
Median earnings are $29,148 six years after entry and $34,042 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Southern University at New Orleans?
The 150%-time completion rate is 13.1% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Southern University at New Orleans students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $31,000.
Is Southern University at New Orleans public or private?
Southern University at New Orleans is a public institution located in New Orleans, 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.