Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
UCF Florida State Alabama UT Florida UL Lafayette FGCU FAU Tulane LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech UNF UH| University of South Florida Main Campus | Louisiana State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
USF Main Campus | LSU | ||
| Location | Tampa, FL | Baton Rouge, LA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 48,572 | 39,418 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #413 | #287 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | usf.edu | lsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
USF Main Campus | LSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,559 | $8,038 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $15,473 | $8,038 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,595 | $14,296 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $11,578 | $21,808 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,012 | $13,509 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 81% | 88% |
Admission |
USF Main Campus | LSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 65,187 | 42,558 | ||
| Admitted | 26,699 | 31,491 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 41% | 74% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21.7% | 23.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.64 | 3.77 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 24/29 | 24/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1140/1330 | 1150/1330 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Required to be considered for admission | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | May 1, 2026 | Jul 15, 2026 |
Academics |
USF Main Campus | LSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 22:1 | 20:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
USF Main Campus | LSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 52% | 60% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $46,500 | $56,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 57% | 67% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,147 | $20,900 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $197 | $216 |
Diversity |
USF Main Campus | LSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 9% | 7% | ||
| % Women | 14% | 11% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 51% | 73% | ||
| % Black | 11% | 12% | ||
| % Hispanic | 21% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 2% | ||
| % International | 5% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
USF Main Campus | LSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 80% | 61% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 37% | ||
Campus |
USF Main Campus | LSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of South Florida Main Campus is larger than than LSU based on total student enrollment (48,572 students vs. 39,418 students)
USF Main Campus vs. LSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, USF Main Campus or LSU?
- Louisiana State University is 76.3% more expensive to attend than USF Main Campus for in-state tuition ($8,038.00 vs. $4,559.00)
- Out of state tuition is 92.5% higher at USF Main Campus than Louisiana State University ($15,473.00 vs. $8,038.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Florida Main Campus than LSU ($11,578 vs. $21,808)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Florida Main Campus are 5.2% lower than costs at Louisiana State University ($13,595 vs. $14,296)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Louisiana State University than University of South Florida Main Campus (88% vs. 81%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Louisiana State University students is 34.9% larger than aid received University of South Florida Main Campus ($13,509 vs. $10,012)
USF Main Campus vs. LSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, USF Main Campus or LSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between LSU or USF Main Campus .
- The average SAT score at University of South Florida Main Campus (1177) is 14 points higher than at LSU (1163)
- Incoming USF Main Campus students have at the same average ACT score (26) as students at LSU (26)
- Accepted freshman LSU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at USF Main Campus (3.64)
- LSU has a higher acceptance rate (74%) than USF Main Campus (41%)
USF Main Campus vs. LSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, USF Main Campus or LSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between LSU and USF Main Campus.
- The graduation rate at LSU is higher than University of South Florida Main Campus (60% vs. 52%)
- Graduates from Louisiana State University earn on average $10,400 more per year than USF Main Campus graduates after ten years. ($56,900 vs. $46,500)
- University of South Florida Main Campus students graduate with a $1,753 lower median federal student loan debt than LSU graduates. ($19,147 vs. $20,900)
- USF Main Campus graduates are paying $19 less per month on federal student loans than LSU graduates. ($197 vs. $216)
- More LSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USF Main Campus 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/