Tulane University
Tulane University is a private research university in uptown New Orleans known for its tight integration with the city — anchored by a renowned School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, a strong business program, and a public-service graduation requirement rooted in post-Katrina rebuilding. Admission is highly selective: Tulane admitted about 14.5% of nearly 33,000 applicants for its most recent class, and enrolled first-years posted middle-50% SAT scores of 1430–1500 with an average high school GPA near 3.67. Tulane leans heavily on binding Early Decision — its ED I and II rounds drew more than 2,000 applications — and roughly 85% of first-years come from outside Louisiana, giving the campus an unusually national draw.
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Tulane admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early Decision
Tulane offers binding Early Decision. Applying early can meaningfully change your odds — but ED commits you to enroll if admitted.
Admit rate by application plan
% admitted~5.1× higher admit rate applying early.
Standardized Tests
Tulane is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Tulane's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 20% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Tulane does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Tulane weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Tulane's Common Data Set.
Private universities charge the same tuition regardless of state residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about Tulane admissions
Is it hard to get into Tulane?＋
Yes — Tulane is highly selective, admitting about 14.5% of applicants in the most recent cycle (roughly 4,763 offers out of nearly 33,000 applications). The admitted class is academically strong, with middle-50% SAT scores of 1430–1500 and an average high school GPA near 3.67, and Tulane draws nationally: about 85% of first-years come from outside Louisiana.
Does applying Early Decision improve your chances at Tulane?＋
Yes — Early Decision is a major part of how Tulane admits its class. Its binding ED I and ED II rounds together received 2,077 applications and admitted 1,209, an early-round admit rate far above the roughly 14.5% overall rate. Tulane offers two binding Early Decision rounds plus a non-binding Early Action option, and 'Level of Applicant's Interest' is weighed as an important factor — so a binding ED commitment is the clearest way to signal Tulane is your first choice.
What GPA do you need to get into Tulane?＋
Enrolled first-year students at Tulane report an average high school GPA of about 3.67, and the class clusters near the top of its cohort — roughly 53% of those who reported class rank were in the top tenth of their graduating class. There is no hard cutoff, but rigor of your course load, class rank, and academic GPA are each weighed as very important factors.
Is Tulane test-optional, and do I need to submit the SAT or ACT?＋
No, you do not have to submit scores — Tulane is test-optional. Among enrolled students who did submit, the middle 50% scored 1430–1500 on the SAT and 32–34 on the ACT, but submission rates are low: only about 11% submitted SAT scores and 27% submitted the ACT. If you submit, scores are weighed as an important factor.
Does demonstrated interest matter at Tulane?＋
Yes. Tulane rates 'Level of Applicant's Interest' as an important factor in its admissions review, alongside the essay, recommendations, and character. The strongest way to show that interest is applying through one of Tulane's two binding Early Decision rounds, whose 2,077 applications and 1,209 admits show how much weight the early commitment carries.
Does the application essay matter at Tulane?＋
Yes. Tulane rates the application essay as an important factor in its holistic review — the same tier as recommendations, character, and demonstrated interest, and above test scores. Volunteer work and extracurricular activities are weighed even higher (very important), so a specific, well-revised essay that ties your activities to Tulane's public-service character is a real chance to stand out.
What are the most popular majors at Tulane?＋
Business is the single most popular area at about 28% of bachelor's degrees, followed by the social sciences (16%) and the biological sciences (9%). Psychology, communication, and the health professions round out the most-conferred fields, reflecting Tulane's strengths in pre-business, pre-health, and public health.
How much does Tulane cost, and is financial aid available?＋
Tuition and required fees run about $71,998 per year, with the total cost of attendance higher once on-campus housing and food (about $19,630) are added. Roughly 33% of first-years receive need-based scholarship or grant aid, with an average need-based package near $70,044, and Tulane meets about 94% of demonstrated need on average.
Source: Tulane University Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-07. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Tulane. Banner photo by Infrogmation of New Orleans, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).