Southern University and A & M College

Baton Rouge, LA · Public · Midsize city · Carnegie R1/R2 · SUMC · Southern University Baton Rouge

Public institution in Baton Rouge, LA · 5,323 undergraduates · 50% acceptance rate · $43,371 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Top 8%Pell Grant share
Top 17%Acceptance rate
Top 22%Undergraduates

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price: $19,7401,055th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees: $9,940589th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees: $17,198680th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance: $26,076757th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt: $29,2511,812th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry: $43,3711,442nd highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry: $33,0331,646th highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year): 28.4%1,805th highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention: 60.4%1,592nd highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate: 49.9%269th most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT: 938997th highest of 1,024 reporting
Median ACT: 17934th highest of 954 reporting

Campus

Undergraduates: 5,323477th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio: 21.0:11,947th smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share: 64.6%171st highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 250 mi (IAH)

On 1 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Most Selective Colleges in Louisiana#4

Applying

RDJul 29

Common App member: Yes
Application fee: $30
Personal essay: Optional / not required
Writing supplement: No

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 37 reported programs.

Field	Level	1 yr	2 yr
Mechanical EngineeringEngineering	bachelors	$69,338	$51,187
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingHealth Professions	bachelors	$61,020	$62,064
Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringEngineering	bachelors	$54,713	$52,107
Civil EngineeringEngineering	bachelors	$48,823	$49,019
Computer Science	bachelors	$42,682	$32,382
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsEducation	bachelors	$41,789	—
MarketingBusiness	bachelors	$36,668	$25,967
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBusiness	bachelors	$35,988	$30,771
Accounting and Related ServicesBusiness	bachelors	$33,993	$37,208
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesHealth Professions	bachelors	$32,391	—
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherMultidisciplinary Studies	bachelors	$31,853	$30,771
English Language and Literature, GeneralEnglish Language & Literature	bachelors	$31,839	—

Campus facts

A Historically Black College or University (HBCU)source
Founded in 1880source
Athletic nickname: "Lady Jaguars"source
Ace W. Mumford Stadium seats about 28,500source
Competes in NCAA Division Isource
School colors: Columbia Blue and Goldsource
Campus size: about 512 acressource
Formerly known as "Southern University for Colored Students" (1880–1890)source
Athletic conference: FCSsource
A [[National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program institutionsource
A Space-grant]] institutionsource
Fight song: ""Southern Fight""source
Notable alum: Commonsource
Notable alum: Randy Jacksonsource

Athletics — 10 sports

NCAA Division I-FCS · NCAA Division I

Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $3,596,156 (M $2,159,496 · W $1,436,660)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.