Louisiana State University Scholarships (2025–2026)
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- Tuition, housing, and what families actually pay on average
- Automatic merit ranges and who typically qualifies
- Flagship (competitive) and hidden-gem scholarships worth a look
- Honors perks and how to stack awards the smart way
📊 Admissions Snapshot
- Acceptance Rate: ~73%
- Middle 50% ACT: 23–29
- Middle 50% SAT: 1130–1310
- Average HS GPA (middle 50%): 3.4–4.0
Source: LSU Common Data Set 2024–25 and BigFuture overview. Middle 50% = the range where half of admitted students fall.
Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →
LSU at a Glance
Last verified: October 10, 2025
Louisiana State University rewards strong academics early—students who apply by December 15 are automatically reviewed for Tiger Excellence and Flagship Scholars awards. High-achieving applicants can also compete for LSU’s top-tier honors like the Stamps Scholarship (full ride) or President’s Alumni Scholars (full tuition).
LSU’s combination of automatic merit, competitive full rides, and out-of-state fee waivers makes it one of the South’s most affordable flagship options for strong students, especially in STEM, business, and pre-professional majors.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes — LSU is test-optional for the 2025–26 cycle and superscores ACT/SAT for scholarships.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 23–29; SAT: 1130–1310 (for students who submitted scores).
What’s the average net price? About $20,015/year on average after aid. See our Net Price & SAI guide.
Does this school use reciprocity or OOS waivers? Yes — LSU offers nonresident fee waivers for qualifying out-of-state students with strong academics or $10K+ in merit aid.
https://www.lsu.edu/institutional-research/common-data-set.php
https://www.lsu.edu/financialaid/scholarships/freshman.php
https://www.lsu.edu/enrollment/aid/scholarships/stamps.php
https://www.honors.lsu.edu/
https://www.lsu.edu/financialaid/aid/nonresidentwaiver.php
https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?159391-Louisiana-State-University
💰 Cost of Attendance at Louisiana State University (LSU)
| Category (2025–2026) | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Mandatory Fees | $12,472 | $29,148 |
| Housing & Meals (standard on-campus) | $15,404 | $15,404 |
| Total (before aid) | $27,876 | $44,552 |
Note: Additional estimated costs not billed directly by LSU include books and supplies ($1,084), transportation ($3,840), and personal expenses ($4,044). These vary by student but are included in LSU’s total Cost of Attendance for financial aid purposes.
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.
🎖 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, Honors not only means small classes and research—it’s also the gateway to LSU’s largest scholarships.
GPA 3.8+ (unweighted), ACT 30+/SAT 1360+, rigorous AP/IB coursework, and leadership/service experience. All applicants submit an additional Honors essay and interview for the highest awards.
Priority class registration • Honors-only seminars • Faculty mentorship and thesis support • Honors residence hall • Access to top scholarships like Stamps and President’s Alumni Scholars.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stamps Scholarship | Full Cost of Attendance + enrichment funds | GPA 3.9+, ACT 32+/SAT 1450+, Honors essay, interview | Yes – Ogden Honors app + interview | Yes (3.0 GPA, active participation) | Fewer than 10 freshmen per year; true national-level scholars | Nov 15 (priority) Feb 1 (final) |
| 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 (3.0 GPA, 24 credits/yr) | About 10–15 freshmen per year; outstanding academic/leadership | Nov 15 (priority) Feb 1 (final) |
| Flagship Gold Scholarship (Honors-tier) | Up to $20,000/yr | GPA 3.8+, ACT 32+/SAT 1420+, awarded at admission | No – automatic if admitted at tier level | Yes (3.0 GPA, 24 credits/yr) | Several dozen per year; most are also in Honors | Dec 15 (priority) |
*Award numbers are estimates; applicant quality and funds may shift each cycle.
Honors College FAQs
Is admission automatic? No—apply to both LSU and Ogden Honors, submit Honors essay, and meet priority deadlines.
How many Stamps Scholars are there? Fewer than 10 selected each year at LSU; these are nationally competitive.
How many President’s Alumni Scholars? About 10–15 awarded to top students each cycle.
Does Honors add time to the degree? No—the experience integrates directly with four-year graduation.
What’s the deadline? Nov 15 is the Ogden Honors priority deadline for top scholarship consideration; final for Honors is Feb 1.
Do awards stack? Top Honors awards replace base merit aid, but some department funds may be added case-by-case.
https://lsu.edu/honors/scholarships.php
https://lsu.edu/scholarships/enteringfreshman.php