Louisiana State University Scholarships (2026–2027)
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Last Updated on March 31, 2026- Tuition, housing, and average family net price
- Automatic merit ranges and qualifier benchmarks
- Flagship and hidden-gem awards
- Honors and stacking strategy
📊 Admissions Snapshot
- Acceptance Rate: ~73%
- Middle 50% ACT: 26
- Middle 50% SAT: 1220
- Average GPA: 3.7
- Below the typical ranges: LSU can still be within reach, but merit money will be limited. Focus on raising GPA and test scores if possible—LSU’s best scholarships are tied directly to academic numbers.
- In the typical ranges: You’re in a strong position for admission, but don’t assume meaningful merit aid. LSU does offer automatic scholarships, but the higher-value tiers require stronger stats.
- Well above the ranges: This is where LSU becomes interesting financially. High GPA and test scores can unlock solid automatic merit, but the biggest awards (like full rides) are still competitive.
Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →
📌 Louisiana State University at a Glance
- LSU is test-optional for admission, but test scores are often needed for higher merit scholarships—skipping them can cost real money.
- The top scholarships (full tuition/full ride) are highly competitive and not guaranteed even for strong students.
- Out-of-state students may see merit help, but it rarely brings costs down to in-state levels without top stats.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes — Louisiana State University is test-optional.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 26; SAT: 1220.
Average net price? About $20,015/yearyear after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? Yes — participates in ACM.
Entering Freshman Scholarships page: https://www.lsu.edu/scholarships/enteringfreshman.php
Ogden Honors College scholarships page: https://www.lsu.edu/honors/scholarships.php
Additional LSU scholarships page: https://lsu.edu/scholarships/additional.php
CollegeScorecard / Admissions: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/
💰 Cost of Attendance at Louisiana State University 2026-2027
📅 2026–2027 Planning Note: The costs below reflect the most recently published figures (2025–2026). Universities typically finalize the next year’s rates in the spring, and we’ll update this page once official 2026–2027 numbers are released.
Planning tip: At large public universities, tuition, fees, and housing usually increase modestly each year (often in the 2–5% range). For early budgeting, families may want to plan for roughly $1,000–$1,500 more in-state or $2,000–$3,000 more out-of-state in total direct costs once new rates are published.
| Category (2026–2027) | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Mandatory Fees (2 semesters) | $12,472 | $29,148 |
| Housing & Meals (typical) | $15,404 | $15,404 |
| Total (Direct Costs) | $27,876 | $44,552 |
Average Federal Net Price: $20,015 — this is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships (no loans), based on the most recent federal data. Your specific cost could be significantly lower or higher depending on your financial aid eligibility and merit scholarships. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
Residents of participating SREB states may qualify for in-state tuition at LSU if their chosen major isn’t offered at a public university in their home state and that major is ACM-approved. Approval is application-based through your home state’s SREB office and LSU.
Example savings: Nonresident tuition & fees are $29,148 vs. in-state $12,472— a potential annual savings of about $16,676 for eligible majors.
Learn more: Visit our Academic Common Market Guide for a step-by-step explanation.
Cost & Aid FAQs
Does LSU charge by credit hour or flat rate?
Full-time tuition covers 12–18 credit hours per semester; credits above 18 incur additional cost.
Is the Academic Common Market automatic?
No. Students must apply through their state’s SREB office and receive LSU confirmation.
Do out-of-state waivers stack with ACM?
No — students receive one nonresident tuition benefit at a time (ACM or waiver, whichever applies).
https://lsu.edu/bgtplan/cost-of-attendance.php
https://lsu.edu/financialaid/scholarships/freshman.php
https://lsu.edu/financialaid/aid/nonresidentwaiver.php
https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?159391-Louisiana-State-University
https://home.sreb.org/acm/states/louisiana/
✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships
At LSU, most scholarships are tied to the admission application, with no separate form required. Scholarships are awarded based on a combination of GPA and standardized test scores (if submitted) at the time of admission. LSU’s automatic merit scholarships are not stackable with the Academic Common Market or similar waivers.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flagship Scholarship | $2,500–$7,500/yr | GPA 3.5+ & ACT 26+ / SAT 1240+ | No | Yes — 3.0 GPA & 24 credits/yr | Solid applicants, top 15–20% of admits | Dec 15 (priority) |
| Tiger Excellence Award | $8,000–$15,000/yr | GPA 3.7+ & ACT 30+ / SAT 1360+ | No | Yes — 3.0 GPA & 24 credits/yr | High achievers — 75th percentile and above | Dec 15 (priority) |
| Flagship Gold Scholarship (Honors) | Up to $20,000/yr | GPA 3.8+, ACT 32+ / SAT 1420+ | No — auto with admission | Yes — 3.0 GPA & 24 credits/yr | Honors admits, highest academic tier | Dec 15 (priority) |
*Award cutoffs and amounts may shift with each admissions cycle; eligibility estimates provided by LSU.
Superscoring: LSU superscores both SAT and ACT results for both admissions and scholarship decisions, maximizing your best subject scores from multiple test dates.
Automatic Scholarship FAQs
Do I need to apply separately? No. All eligible applicants are considered automatically, but admissions deadlines matter (Dec 15 for priority).
Is LSU test-optional? Yes, but submitting strong scores unlocks higher award bands. GPA alone may secure a base award.
Can you stack these with tuition waivers? Usually not. Academic Common Market or out-of-state tuition waivers cannot generally be combined with auto-merit scholarships.
https://lsu.edu/financialaid/types_of_scholarships.php
https://lsu.edu/scholarships/enteringfreshman.php
https://lsu.edu/honors/scholarships.php
https://lsu.edu/scholarships/applyfreshman.php
🏆 Competitive Scholarships
LSU’s most selective, high-value awards—including full Cost of Attendance packages—are administered through the Ogden Honors College. There is no separate, published university-level competitive scholarship list for freshmen beyond the Honors pathway. The Stamps Scholarship and the President’s Alumni Scholars Award are LSU’s flagship merit awards, and full details are described in the Honors College section.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | What Makes It Competitive | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | No university-level (non-Honors) freshman competitive list published | First-time freshmen | — | — | See Honors College section for LSU’s selective full-ride/full-COA awards | Dec 15 (priority for Honors consideration) |
Competitive Scholarship FAQs
Where are the big, selective awards? LSU’s top scholarships—the Stamps Scholarship and the President’s Alumni Scholars Award—are chosen through the Ogden Honors application, not a general pool.
Are there other competitive awards for non-Honors students? Not for freshmen; departmental and upper-division competitive awards are available later.
Can these be stacked with LSU’s automatic scholarships or ACM? Stacking is limited—Academic Common Market waivers cannot be combined with most nonresident merit, and most Honors awards replace basic auto-merit awards. Details are in the Honors College section below.
https://lsu.edu/scholarships/enteringfreshman.php
https://lsu.edu/honors/scholarships.php
🎖 Honors College
The Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College is where LSU gathers its most driven students. Admission is competitive, with essays and extra steps beyond the general application. For parents, it’s important to know that Honors is more than just small classes—it’s also the gateway to LSU’s biggest scholarships.
GPA 3.8+ (unweighted), ACT 30+/SAT 1360+, rigorous AP/IB coursework, and leadership/service experience. Students submit an additional Honors essay and often interview for top awards.
Priority class registration • Honors-only seminars • Faculty mentorship and thesis support • Dedicated residence hall • Access to top scholarships like Stamps and President’s Alumni Scholars.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stamps Scholarship | Full Cost of Attendance + enrichment funds | GPA 3.9+, ACT 32+/SAT 1450+, Honors essay, interview | Yes – Ogden Honors app + interview | Yes (maintain 3.0+ GPA & active participation) | Fewer than 10 freshmen per year; true national-level scholars |
| President’s Alumni Scholars Award | Full Cost of Attendance | GPA 3.8+, ACT 31+/SAT 1400+, Honors essay, interview | Yes – Ogden Honors app + interview | Yes (must keep 3.0 GPA, 24 credit hours/yr) | Roughly 10–15 freshmen per year; standout leaders with high academics |
| Flagship Gold Scholarship (Honors-tier) | Up to $20,000/yr | GPA 3.8+, ACT 32+/SAT 1420+, awarded with admission | No – automatic if admitted at tier level | Yes (3.0 GPA, 24 credit hours/yr) | Several dozen each year; most recipients also in Honors |
*Award numbers are approximate and can shift slightly each year depending on funding and applicant pool.
Honors College FAQs
Is admission automatic?
No—students must submit a separate Honors College application with essays and meet priority deadlines.
How many Stamps Scholars does LSU award?
Usually fewer than 10 students per year are selected.
How many President’s Alumni Scholars are chosen?
Roughly 10–15 students per year earn this award.
Does Honors add time to graduation?
No. Honors courses count toward degree requirements, and the thesis is built into upper-level credits.
When is the deadline?
Priority deadline is November 15 for full scholarship consideration. Final deadline is February 1.
Are Honors scholarships stackable?
Top awards like Stamps and President’s Alumni Scholars replace other merit aid. Departmental awards may stack if approved.
⭐ College Specialty
Louisiana State University (LSU) is the flagship public university of Louisiana and one of the largest research institutions in the South. Families often recognize LSU for its SEC athletics and strong school spirit, but academically the university is especially known for engineering, coastal and environmental research, business, and mass communication programs tied closely to industry across the Gulf Coast.
Petroleum Engineering (College of Engineering) — consistently ranked among the top programs in the United States due to LSU’s proximity to the Gulf Coast energy industry. Graduates frequently move into high-demand roles in oil, gas, and energy infrastructure companies.
- Engineering: Particularly strong in petroleum, chemical, and civil engineering, with direct pipelines to Gulf Coast energy, infrastructure, and industrial employers.
- Coastal & Environmental Science: LSU researchers play a major role in coastal restoration, hurricane research, and environmental resilience projects across Louisiana and the Gulf region.
- Mass Communication (Manship School): Highly respected nationally for journalism, political communication, and media research, with strong connections to public policy and media organizations.
- Business (E. J. Ourso College of Business): Known for accounting, finance, and energy-related business programs that connect directly with regional industry.