Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
New Orleans, Louisiana
87.7% Acceptance Rate
Loyola University New Orleans — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
87.7%Acceptance Rate
3.48Avg GPA
1145Avg SAT
$61,837Annual Cost
$52,927Grad Salary
37.2%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
87.7%
Avg GPA
3.48
Avg SAT
1145
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
1105–1175
Need-Based Aid
37.2% receive Pell
Loyola University New Orleans is a private, Catholic, Jesuit university known for its integration of arts, humanities, and professional education within a unique urban context. Admissions are holistic, seeking students who demonstrate both academic potential and a desire to engage with the city??s rich culture and challenges. Applicants should show a passion for service, creative problem-solving, and a commitment to integrating professional work with ethical reflection.
Loyola University New Orleans Acceptance Rate
Admission at Loyola University New Orleans is inclusive by design: 87.7% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 87.7% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.48 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.28 – 3.47
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.03
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Loyola University New Orleans Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Mark November 15 for Loyola University New Orleans (Early Action — other plans are listed below).
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 111 days left — Early Action
Early Action
November 15
Regular Decision
February 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (2025/12/01 (Merit scholarship priority)) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Loyola University New Orleans GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Loyola University New Orleans is 3.48. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.18–3.48 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.68–3.88.Loyola University New Orleans GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective, with solid academic performance as the expectation.
Recommended Strategy: A clear, defined strength in one activity or research area matters more than breadth.
This range is a rough map — where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.48 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.28 – 3.47
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.08 – 3.27
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.07
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- No application fee; Early Action deadline November 15, Priority (scholarship) deadline February 15, Regular Decision April 15 for first-year students.
- Test-optional for general admission, but Louisiana residents need scores on file for TOPS eligibility, and recruited NAIA athletes may need scores to confirm NAIA eligibility.
- Ignatian Scholarship requires a December 1 application/interview deadline - minimum 3.5 GPA and 29 ACT/1300 SAT to be considered for the multi-step interview process, distinct from and earlier than general merit scholarship consideration.
- College of Music and Media applicants undergo a separate audition/interview process with its own March 15 deadline, evaluated alongside - not instead of - academic merit; talent-based scholarships in music, theatre, and visual arts are awarded after auditions.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself — a 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average — the trajectory tells its own story.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Loyola University New Orleans
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Loyola University New Orleans's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Loyola University New Orleans Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Loyola University New Orleans — landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Loyola University New Orleans Without SAT or ACT?
Loyola University New Orleans neither requires nor recommends test scores. Submit yours only if it's above the state or national average — otherwise, leaving it off works in your favor.
Loyola University New Orleans Average SAT Score: 1145
Admitted students at Loyola University New Orleans average a 1145 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1145 — Less Competitive
A 1145 average leaves meaningful room above it for a competitive application.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1175 SAT) to stand out. Below average? Loyola University New Orleans allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1105? A retake is worth it at Loyola University New Orleans — two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | - | - | - |
| SAT Reading | - | - | - |
| SAT Composite | 1145 | 1105 | 1175 |
A score under 1105 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1175+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1150
Can I get into Loyola University New Orleans with a 1200 SAT?
At 1200, your SAT is squarely in Loyola University New Orleans's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file — GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Loyola University New Orleans
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Loyola University New Orleans takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.
Treat the College of Music and Media application as a second, separate process
Music Industry Studies, Popular & Commercial Music, Hip Hop & R&B, Music Education, and Music Therapy applicants must complete a faculty-reviewed audition and/or interview through the Loyola Application Portal by March 15 - general admission to Loyola does not include admission to these specific majors. Students can audition on-campus or via Zoom with equal consideration, so location isn't a barrier, but skipping this step entirely is.
Louisiana residents should submit test scores even though Loyola is test-optional
TOPS, Louisiana's state tuition assistance program, is determined by LOSFA using GPA and test scores regardless of Loyola's own test-optional policy - Loyola cannot include a TOPS award in a financial aid package without a submitted score on file. Louisiana applicants who skip testing because Loyola doesn't require it can inadvertently forfeit state tuition assistance.
Apply and interview for the Ignatian Scholarship by December 1 - well before the general priority deadline
The Ignatian Scholarship (full tuition, fees, housing, meal plan, and automatic Honors Program admission) requires both an admission application and, for top candidates, a required interview completed by December 1 - a full 2.5 months before Loyola's general February 15 priority deadline. Highly qualified applicants who wait until February 15 to apply have already missed the window for Loyola's most valuable award.
Non-music majors can still apply for the Ensemble Award
The Ensemble Award is a scholarship specifically for non-music majors who participate in classical or jazz ensembles - a stackable opportunity that most applicants outside the College of Music and Media never think to pursue since it isn't tied to declaring a music major or going through the CMM audition process.
Expert Insight:
Loyola's Common App listing shows "no personal essay required," which is accurate only in the narrow sense that there's no separate supplemental essay beyond the standard Common App personal statement - Loyola's own admissions site describes a required 500-word essay using the same prompts as the Common App main essay. Applicants who skip the personal statement entirely because they read "no essay required" are misreading the policy.
Loyola University New Orleans Profile
Full Name
Loyola University New Orleans
City
New Orleans
State
Louisiana
ZIP Code
70118-6143
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a Loyola University New Orleans Degree Worth It?
Whether Loyola University New Orleans is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals — here's the data to weigh it against.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $67,800, and graduates see a 3.42% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Loyola University New Orleans Cost?
Listed tuition runs $61,837/year at Loyola University New Orleans; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land typically much lower.
At Loyola University New Orleans, 37.2% receive a Pell Grant and 53.8% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Loyola University New Orleans on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Loyola University New Orleans Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Loyola University New Orleans graduates report a median income of $52,927, about 30% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Loyola University New Orleans. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | 1095 | 22 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 1119 | 22 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR | 1117 | 22 |
| University of La Verne | La Verne, CA | 1116 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Denver, CO | 1119 | 24 |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison, CO | 1130 | 25 |
| University of Saint Joseph | West Hartford, CT | 1100 | NA |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | Tallahassee, FL | 1100 | 22 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Loyola University New Orleans. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton, FL | 1136 | 25 |
| Florida International University | Miami, FL | 1154 | 23 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Loyola University New Orleans. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
Degree Programs at Loyola University New Orleans
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Loyola University New Orleans Admissions
Loyola University New Orleans graduates earn a moderate median salary of $52,927/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Loyola University New Orleans runs high — roughly $61,837+/year — so financial aid planning matters.
37.2% of Loyola University New Orleans students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income — filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Loyola University New Orleans's acceptance rate is 87.7%, comparatively higher than most selective universities — admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Loyola University New Orleans students is 3.48, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.18 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Loyola University New Orleans. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.08 or below makes admission tougher at Loyola University New Orleans, but strong test scores, activities, and essays — plus AP/IB coursework — can still keep you in contention.
Loyola University New Orleans weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1145, and within the 1105–1175 range, keeps you competitive.
Loyola University New Orleans's deadline is November 15 (Early Action).
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before 2025/12/01 (Merit scholarship priority) — that's Loyola University New Orleans's scholarship priority date.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out — plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
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