ASU vs. LSU

Deciding between Arizona State University and Louisiana State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Arizona State University
Louisiana State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ASU Tempe, AZ
  • LSU Baton Rouge, LA
  • Setting
  • ASU Midsize City
  • LSU Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • ASU 79,818
  • LSU 41,705
  • Type
  • ASU Public 4 Year
  • LSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ASU #398
  • LSU #350
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ASU -
  • LSU -
  • Status
  • ASU Non-profit
  • LSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ASU
  • LSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ASU $12,223
  • LSU $11,954
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ASU $33,139
  • LSU $28,631
  • Room & Board
  • ASU $16,712
  • LSU $15,142
  • Average Net Price
  • ASU $17,779
  • LSU $21,430
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ASU $12,172
  • LSU $14,094
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ASU 89%
  • LSU 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ASU 70,928
  • LSU 47,065
  • Admitted
  • ASU 63,756
  • LSU 34,513
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ASU 89.9%
  • LSU 73.3%
  • Enrolled
  • ASU 22.1%
  • LSU 23%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ASU 1210
  • LSU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • ASU 24
  • LSU 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • ASU 3.54
  • LSU 3.77
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ASU A-
  • LSU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ASU Challenging
  • LSU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • ASU
  • LSU Low
  • ACT Range
  • ASU 21/28
  • LSU 24/30
  • SAT Range
  • ASU 1100/1320
  • LSU 1180/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ASU Test optional
  • LSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ASU
  • LSU Jul 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ASU 18:1
  • LSU 21:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ASU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • LSU
    • Business (18%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ASU 57%
  • LSU 60%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ASU $52,600
  • LSU $56,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ASU 57%
  • LSU 67%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ASU $20,278
  • LSU $20,900
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ASU $209
  • LSU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ASU 52%
  • LSU 42%
  • % Women
  • ASU 48%
  • LSU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ASU High
  • LSU Medium
  • HBCU
  • ASU No
  • LSU No
  • % White
  • ASU 52%
  • LSU 73%
  • % Asian
  • ASU 7%
  • LSU 4%
  • % Black
  • ASU 4%
  • LSU 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • ASU 19%
  • LSU 6%
  • % Native American
  • ASU 1%
  • LSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ASU 0%
  • LSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ASU 4%
  • LSU 2%
  • % International
  • ASU 12%
  • LSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ASU 1%
  • LSU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ASU 63%
  • LSU 60%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ASU 30%
  • LSU 39%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ASU Yes
  • LSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ASU No
  • LSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • ASU Yes
  • LSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ASU Yes
  • LSU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • ASU Yes
  • LSU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ with Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arizona State University is larger than LSU based on total student enrollment (79,818 students vs. 41,705 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Arizona State University is located in Tempe, AZ (Midsize City setting); Louisiana State University is in Baton Rouge, LA (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Arizona State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Louisiana State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Arizona State University 18:1; Louisiana State University 21:1.

ASU vs. LSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ASU or LSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Arizona State University than LSU ($17,779 vs. $21,430).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Louisiana State University are 9.4% lower than at Arizona State University ($15,142 vs. $16,712).
  • Arizona State University is 2.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than LSU (about $269 more per year; $12,223.00 vs. $11,954.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 15.7% higher at ASU than at Louisiana State University (about $4,508 more per year; $33,139.00 vs. $28,631.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Arizona State University than at Louisiana State University (89% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Louisiana State University students is 15.8% larger than aid received by Arizona State University students ($14,094 vs. $12,172).

ASU vs. LSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ASU or LSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between LSU and ASU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Louisiana State University (1260) is 50 points higher than at ASU (1210).
  • Incoming LSU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 24 at ASU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 1100/1320; Louisiana State University 1180/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 21/28; Louisiana State University 24/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ASU - Test optional; LSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: LSU Jul 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman LSU students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at ASU (3.54).
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than LSU (73.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.1% at ASU vs. 23% at LSU.

ASU vs. LSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ASU and LSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Louisiana State University's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than Arizona State University's (57%).
  • Graduates from Louisiana State University earn a median of about $4,300 more per year than ASU graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,900 vs. $52,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Arizona State University graduates have a $622 lower median loan debt than LSU graduates ($20,278 vs. $20,900).
  • Among borrowers, ASU graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than LSU graduates ($209 vs. $216).
  • More LSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ASU students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 57%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.