LSU vs. Southeastern

Comparable Facts

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

Louisiana State University is larger than Southeastern based on total student enrollment (41,705 students vs. 14,426 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Louisiana State University is located in Baton Rouge, LA (Rural Fringe setting); Southeastern Louisiana University is in Hammond, LA (Distant Town setting).
• Louisiana State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Southeastern Louisiana University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Louisiana State University 21:1; Southeastern Louisiana University 20:1.

LSU vs. Southeastern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LSU or Southeastern? 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 Southeastern Louisiana University than LSU ($13,116 vs. $21,430).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southeastern Louisiana University are 32.4% lower than at Louisiana State University ($10,240 vs. $15,142).
• Louisiana State University is 42.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southeastern (about $3,581 more per year; $11,954.00 vs. $8,373.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 37.3% higher at LSU than at Southeastern Louisiana University (about $7,780 more per year; $28,631.00 vs. $20,851.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southeastern Louisiana University than at Louisiana State University (97% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Louisiana State University students is 37.5% larger than aid received by Southeastern Louisiana University students ($14,094 vs. $10,253).

LSU vs. Southeastern Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LSU or Southeastern? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Southeastern and LSU.

• Incoming LSU students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (27 vs. 21 at Southeastern).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Louisiana State University 1180/1340.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Louisiana State University 24/30; Southeastern Louisiana University 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: LSU - Test optional; Southeastern - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: LSU Jul 15, 2027; Southeastern Aug 1, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman LSU students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at Southeastern (3.39).
• Southeastern has a higher acceptance rate (99.3%) than LSU (73.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23% at LSU vs. 38.8% at Southeastern.

LSU vs. Southeastern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LSU and Southeastern? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Louisiana State University's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than Southeastern Louisiana University's (33%).
• Graduates from Louisiana State University earn a median of about $15,800 more per year than Southeastern graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,900 vs. $41,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Louisiana State University graduates have a $372 lower median loan debt than Southeastern graduates ($20,900 vs. $21,272).
• Among borrowers, LSU graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Southeastern graduates ($216 vs. $219).
• More LSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southeastern students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 52%)

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.