“A top-tier private research university where academic rigor meets the vibrant culture of New Orleans”
Tulane University is one of the most distinctive private research universities in the United States, combining elite academics with the unmatched cultural richness of New Orleans. Founded in 1834, Tulane is the second-oldest private university in the Deep South and a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. Its 110-acre Uptown campus sits along St. Charles Avenue beneath a canopy of live oak trees, just a streetcar ride from the French Quarter and the heart of one of America's most storied cities. Academically, Tulane offers over 70 majors across five undergraduate schools — Architecture, Business, Liberal Arts, Public Health, and Science and Engineering — all unified under Newcomb-Tulane College. The university is particularly known for its programs in public health and tropical medicine, business, and the sciences, as well as its deep commitment to community engagement. Every Tulane student must complete two service-learning courses, totaling at least 40 hours, making civic responsibility a core part of the educational experience. Tulane's 'work hard, play hard' culture is genuine. Students tackle rigorous coursework during the week and embrace New Orleans on the weekends — from jazz clubs and world-class restaurants to Mardi Gras parades and crawfish boils. The university's acceptance rate has dropped below 15%, reflecting its rising selectivity, while generous merit and need-based aid makes it more accessible than its sticker price suggests. With a tight-knit community of around 8,500 undergraduates, Tulane offers the resources of a major research university at a scale where students are known by name.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
National Universities
US News 2026
QS World University Rankings
QS 2026
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceEarly Decision
Binding. Decision by mid-December.
Early Action
Non-binding. Decision by mid-January.
Regular Decision
Decision by April 1. Deposit deadline May 1.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$63,000
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
A highly regarded business school known for its finance and management programs, with strong corporate connections and a collaborative culture that reflects New Orleans' entrepreneurial spirit.
Combines traditional science disciplines with engineering in a collaborative environment, offering hands-on research opportunities starting freshman year.
The largest of Tulane's undergraduate schools, encompassing 16 departments and 19 interdisciplinary programs in the humanities, social sciences, and performing arts.
The only school of public health and tropical medicine in the US, offering unique undergraduate and graduate programs with a global health focus shaped by New Orleans' own health challenges.
A small, studio-focused school offering a 5-year Bachelor of Architecture program immersed in one of the most architecturally rich cities in America.
4 years
Housed in the only School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in the US, this program offers unique fieldwork opportunities in global health, leveraging New Orleans as a living laboratory for health equity research.
4 years
The most popular major at Tulane, the Freeman School's finance program provides strong Wall Street and consulting recruiting with a distinctively collaborative culture.
5 years
A professionally accredited 5-year program set in one of America's most architecturally significant cities, with studio work that engages directly with New Orleans' built environment.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $68,678
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.