LSU GPA Requirements: A Comprehensive Guide to Admission

Louisiana State University (LSU) is a prominent institution offering a wide array of academic programs. Understanding the GPA requirements is crucial for prospective students. This article provides a detailed overview of LSU's GPA requirements for freshman and transfer applicants, along with other essential admission criteria.

Application Process Overview

The application for undergraduate admission can be accessed through the LSU website. All applicants are encouraged to apply well before the deadline dates and send transcripts of all college work attempted, if any, as soon as possible. An official transcript from the graduating high school listing coursework from grades 9-12 is required after high school graduation. Louisiana high schools submit electronic transcripts to the State Department of Education, which LSU can access upon receiving a student’s application for admission and again when final grades are issued.

A non-refundable application fee of $50 must accompany the application for admission or re-entry. The application for admission also serves as the application for all freshman scholarship programs and for the Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College. The priority deadline for full consideration for LSU scholarships and for admission to the Honors College is December 15.

Arrangements for admission, financial aid, and housing are made separately through the Office of Admissions, Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, and the Office of Residential Life, respectively. Students applying for on-campus housing must first commit to LSU by submitting their enrollment deposit. Applying for admission does not entitle an applicant to university housing or financial aid; nor is the filing of a housing application, the assignment to a room, or the award of financial aid a commitment of admission to the university.

LSU requires all admitted, first-time freshman and transfer students to indicate their intent to enroll by paying a non-refundable, required $200 deposit. All students enrolling for the first time at LSU or after an absence of one semester or more must furnish proof of immunization for (or immunity to) measles, meningitis, mumps, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, and tuberculosis screening prior to enrollment at the university. All persons who are required to register for the federal draft under the federal Military Selective Service Act shall be required to certify on their application for admission that they have registered with the Selective Service.

Freshman Admission Requirements

Admission to LSU is based on a holistic review of the total high school record. This includes the rigor of courses completed, grades, standardized test scores, educational objectives, and experiences. Additionally, students must submit at least one letter of recommendation from an academic source (counselor, teacher, advisor, administrator, etc.) or someone who can speak to the student’s ambitions, work ethic, or perseverance through challenges.

Core GPA

The minimum requirement for assured admission is a 3.0 Core GPA on the 19 units of college-preparatory high school courses as outlined in the LSU Core, and/or a 1030 Old SAT (Critical Reading and Math)/1100 New SAT (Evidence Based Reading/Writing and Math)/22 Composite ACT. The Admissions Committee will review qualifications and application packages to determine whether additional predictors of success exist as a basis for admission.

Holistic Review Factors

Other factors considered in the admission process include:

Choice of degree program
Rank in class
Scores on standardized tests (SAT or ACT)
Credit in advanced placement and honors courses
Pattern and quality of courses
Grade trends
Educational objectives
Extracurricular activities
School recommendations

Applicants who meet the educational requirements listed in the LSU catalog will be considered for admission. Admission will be denied if requirements listed in this catalog are not met. Admission is not automatically granted when these requirements are met; it may be denied if other factors, in the judgment of university officials, merit denial. Issues such as limited enrollment in certain curricula, timeliness of application, unavailability of certain programs, and other relevant factors may be considered. Students may appeal admission decisions to the Faculty Undergraduate Admissions Committee.

High School Course Requirements

To be considered for admission, students must have completed specific high school coursework. These include:

English: 4 units
Math: 4 units
Science: 4 units (two units from Biology, Chemistry, or Physics; remaining units from Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Environmental Science, Physics, or related science AP courses)
Social Studies: 4 units
Foreign Language: 2 units (of the same language)
Arts: 1 unit (selected from Fine Arts Survey, Art, Dance, Music, or Theatre)

Early Admission Program

The Early Admission Program permits high school students who have not completed all requirements for a high school diploma to apply for admission to LSU as regular students, provided they fulfill these minimum requirements: 15 units of high school credit, including three units of English; an overall academic average of 3.00 (“B”); and a composite score of 28 ACT/1250 SAT. A limited number of students are selected from those who meet these requirements.

Concurrent Enrollment Program

The Concurrent Enrollment Program permits exceptional high school seniors to enroll in one or more courses at LSU when space, faculty, and other facilities are available. Students enrolled in this program will be required to attend classes on LSU’s campus. Students must have a GPA of 3.00 (“B”), a composite score of 27 ACT/1210 SAT, and be recommended by the high school principal or counselor for enrollment in a specific course or courses. Students must have completed the most advanced courses offered by their school in the academic areas in which they wish to enroll or must be considered qualified for the college course by the principal or counselor. Continuation in this model requires renewed approval each semester. Students are eligible for honors activities and are encouraged to visit the Honors College office. Students who participate in Concurrent Enrollment Program are responsible for all costs associated with attending LSU. These costs may include, but are not limited to, tuition and fees, a student parking permit, and books. Louisiana law requires immunization against measles, mumps, rubella, and tetanus-diphtheria, as well as a tuberculosis screening, for students who are participating in this program.

Test-Optional Policy

LSU has transitioned to a test-optional admissions process for the 2024-2025 application cycle, so submitting standardized test scores (SAT or ACT) is optional.

Transfer Admission Requirements

Students with previous college or university work from regionally accredited institutions may be considered for admission if they have an overall 2.50 GPA or better on all college work attempted, including a grade of “C” or better in both college-level courses in English and in mathematics (above remedial) that fulfill a general education requirement at the institution where they were taken.

GPA Calculation

LSU computes the GPA on all courses taken, including repeated courses, courses with incomplete grades, and those with any other grades, except “W,” “WA,” “WB,” “WC,” “WD,” “WF,” “unsatisfactory,” and “no credit.” Effective Fall 2015, transfer students submitting an application for enrollment to LSU for Spring 2016 and beyond will be considered under the new plus/minus grading policy. From Spring 2016 forward, transfer coursework earned Fall 2015 and beyond from sending institutions awarding plus/minus grades will be included in the calculation of the student’s grade point average. Grade point averages will be computed using the lower grade given by institutions that issue upper/lower grades (“AB,” “BC,” etc.). Grades of “pass,” “credit,” and “satisfactory” will be treated alike and will be counted as earned hours, but not in the computation of the GPA. “Fail” will count as hours attempted, but not as hours earned, and will be used to compute the GPA, including any remedial course work.

Read also: Decoding Yale Admissions

Required Documents

A prospective transfer student should submit an admission application and a complete official transcript from each college or university attended, whether or not credit was earned or is desired. Provisional admission, pending receipt of supplementary records, may be granted when it is impossible to obtain final records prior to scheduled registration dates.

Transfer Orientation

Transfer students are required to participate in the Transfer Student Orientation program. This program provides information about student services and resources at LSU and the credit evaluation process. Students meet with an advisor, obtain an ID card and a myLSU account, and schedule classes.

Re-entry Students

Re-entering students who have not enrolled in the university for one or more regular semesters must apply for readmission. Students who have attempted 29 or fewer semester hours at other accredited colleges or universities since last attending LSU must meet the senior college scholastic requirements for re-entry; or may be placed on scholastic probation or warning upon re-entry. Students who have attempted 30 or more semester hours at other accredited colleges or universities since last attending LSU must have a GPA of at least 2.50 on all college work attempted including a college-level course in English and in mathematics above the remedial level.

LSU Second Chance

If a student has not enrolled in any credit-bearing coursework for five or more years, the student may apply for the LSU Second Chance, which permits prior university credit to be carried over and applied to the total hours earned but not used in the computation of the grade point average. These credit hours may be applied towards degree program requirements if approved by the dean of the student’s major college. Only students who were admitted to LSU and left without a degree are eligible for the LSU Second Chance. Transfer students and students who have a degree from LSU are not eligible for consideration.

Credit Evaluation

The Office of Enrollment Management evaluates credit from other institutions after the student’s complete application and all official transcripts from each college and university attended have been received. Credit earned in colleges and universities accredited by regional accrediting associations is generally accepted; however, courses taken at the lower (1000-2000) level cannot be given upper (3000-4000) level credit. For schools not regionally accredited, the university is guided in its decision regarding acceptance of credit by recommendations of selected institutions in the states in which the schools are located. Applicants who are admitted are given an opportunity, usually through advanced-standing examinations, to validate some or all of the credit. Questions relating to the evaluation of credit should be referred to the Office of Enrollment Management: Undergraduate Admissions. Questions relating to the acceptance of credit toward a degree program and the length of time required for completion of degree requirements should be referred to the appropriate senior college or school.

International Students

International admission requirements are applied to all students who have international secondary or post-secondary educational credentials, regardless of country of citizenship, immigrant status, or visa status. Any transcript or documentation issued in a language other than English must be sent with an official English translation. Official transcripts or scores are required showing completion of one of the above before a student can be exempted from the Duolingo/TOEFL/IELTS/PTE requirement. The Office of Enrollment Management: Undergraduate Admissions reserves the right to require a satisfactory Duolingo/TOEFL/IELTS/PTE score from any applicant. Students must submit complete official records for the secondary level of education and are strongly encouraged to submit ACT or SAT scores. International students who have attended any post-secondary level college, university, or institution must apply as transfer students.

International Transfer Students

International transfer students must have a minimum GPA (on a 4-point grading system) for all transferable credit from accredited international institutions. Students must submit official transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended, listing courses taken and grades earned. Also required are the official course descriptions or syllabi to be evaluated for possible credit toward an LSU degree. Transfer credit is not given for English as a second language, non-English native language courses, or vocational/technical courses. International transfer students must meet the general transfer requirements: an overall GPA of at least 2.50 and 30 semester hours of transferable credit, including college-level courses in both English and mathematics.

E. J. Ourso College of Business

Students in good standing may apply for admission to the E. J. Ourso College of Business in a subsequent semester. Students may apply for admission to the E. J. final grades have been posted.

Additional Information

Residency Requirements

Students must meet the residency requirements for the university before graduation. Eligibility for classification as a Louisiana resident is determined by the Office of Enrollment Management: Undergraduate Admissions in accordance with LSU System regulations and is based on evidence provided on the application for admission and related documents. Regulations relate primarily to location of the home and place of employment. An individual’s physical presence within this state for one year must be associated with substantial evidence that such presence was with the intent to maintain a Louisiana domicile. For additional information concerning the establishment of residency, contact the Office of Enrollment Management: Undergraduate Admissions.

Campus Tours and Orientation

Campus tours are offered Monday-Friday, excluding university holidays, in the LSU Geaux Center. Tour sessions begin with an overview of the campus, descriptions of programs of study, admission requirements, and information about student aid and scholarships. Special Saturday tours are conducted in the spring and summer semesters. Freshman applicants who intend to enroll at the LSU flagship campus must participate in a freshman orientation and registration program. This program includes introduction to campus resources and staff, testing for placement or advanced standing and the opportunity to select courses course preferences for the coming semester. Students must be admitted to the university and have submitted the enrollment deposit to participate in orientation.

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