Louisiana State University Online

Highlights

A large, public university with more than 30,000 students.
Over 235 academic programs available.
Louisiana State University Notable alumni include Shaquille O'Neal and Hubert Humphrey.
A long list of NFL stars are former LSU football players.

Overview

As one of Louisiana's cornerstone universities, LSU first opened its doors in 1860. While it began as a male-only military school, LSU now welcomes a diverse student body. Women make up 50.8% of the undergraduate learners at LSU and 52% of the graduate degree candidates. Ethnic minorities account for 16.7% of undergraduate students and 13.5% of students seeking master's degrees or above. Online learners can take individual undergraduate courses to supplement on-campus learning, or they can complete their entire graduate-level program from a distance.

Louisiana State University Tuition, Accreditation, and Admissions Info

Tuition

Online graduate: $326-$1,110 per credit.
Undergraduate resident: $5,976 per semester up to 15 credits.
Undergraduate nonresident: $14,318 per semester up to 15 credits.

Accreditation and Approvals

LSU is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Several colleges within the school earn specialized accreditations as well, including the following.

Art and Design

Council for Interior Design Accreditation
Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board
National Association of Schools of Art and Design
National Architectural Accrediting Board

Science

American Chemical Society
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
Commission on the Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs

Agriculture

Society of American Foresters
Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics

Business

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration

Mass Communication

Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications

Humanities and Social Sciences

American Psychological Association
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology

Engineering

American Council for Construction Education
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology

Human Sciences and Education

American Library Association
Council on Social Work Education
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training and Education
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education

Admissions

Because the school does not offer online bachelor's programs, undergraduate learners must apply for the on-campus school. The university does not publish absolute minimum requirements. LSU acceptance rate for undergraduate students is around 74%. The middle 50% of accepted applicants have ACT scores between 23 and 28 or SAT scores between 1100 and 1270. Eighty percent of freshmen at LSU are in the top half of their high school graduating classes.

Each graduate program at LSU posts its own admissions requirements. Some departments require candidates to submit GRE scores, while others expect specific courses on an applicant's transcripts.

Other Statistics

Students from states outside Louisiana make up 18.5% of the undergraduate population, and 47.3% or graduate learners.
The median starting salary for a bachelor's degree graduate is $51,400.
The student-to-faculty ratio is 20:1.

School Profile

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Full-Time Freshman Retention Rate: 72%
Required Standardized Test: ACT/SAT for undergraduates, some graduates need GRE
Public/Private: Public
Acceptance Rate: 74%
Graduation Rate: 67.4%
Athletics: NCAA Division I, Southeastern Conference
Mascot: Tigers
Colors: Purple and gold
Address: Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Phone Number: (225) 578-1645
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

LSU Online Degrees Offered

LSU does not offer complete associate or bachelor's programs online, but students can take some bachelor's courses online.
Undergraduate learners can complete three different undergraduate credit certificates.
The school offers eight master's degrees and four graduate certificate programs through distance education.