Admissions data checked October 9, 2026 by Florida Test Prep.
Louisiana State University reports a middle 50% SAT of 1180 to 1320 (enrolled, fall 2024 CDS 2024-25). We use 1250 as a first planning target, then adjust it to the student's diagnostic and timeline. It is not an admission requirement or a guarantee.
| Middle 50% SAT | 1180 to 1320 (enrolled, fall 2024 CDS 2024-25) |
| Middle 50% ACT | 24 to 30 |
| Acceptance rate | 73.3% (fall 2024, 47,065 applicants) |
| Testing for 2026-27 | Required for fall 2027 applicants with a weighted GPA below 3.5; optional at 3.5+ |
| Type | Public university |
Source: LSU official admissions data. A middle 50% describes the central half of the reported group, not a cutoff.
LSU's Board of Supervisors reinstated the test requirement in Feb 2026 after a test-optional window that began in 2022.
| School | Middle 50% SAT | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|
| Tulane University | 1430 to 1500 | 14.5% |
| Louisiana State University | 1180 to 1320 | 73.3% |
| Loyola University New Orleans | 1093 to 1285 | ~91% |
Cohorts differ by school (admitted vs enrolled, and year). See every school with its cohort and source on SAT Scores for Louisiana Colleges.
Louisiana's TOPS (Taylor Opportunity Program for Students) scholarship is the state's score-tied money: it is administered on the ACT, but LOSFA publishes an official SAT-equivalent cutoff for every tier, and pays a fixed annual amount set per institution plus a GPA-and-score-based stipend for the two higher tiers.
TOPS Opportunity Award: SAT 1030. $3,731.49 per semester at LSU (amount varies by school); requires a 20 ACT (or the prior year's state average, whichever is higher, never below 20) and a 2.50 TOPS Core GPA.
TOPS Honors Award: SAT 1260. $4,131.49 per semester at LSU, including a $400/semester Honors stipend (amount varies by school); requires a 27 ACT and a 3.50 TOPS Core GPA.
The full rules, deadlines and class years are on our Louisiana SAT prep page.
| College | State | Middle 50% SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Butler University | Indiana | 1170 to 1330 |
| Mercer University | Georgia | 1170 to 1330 |
| Washington College | Maryland | 1155 to 1340 |
| Beloit College | Wisconsin | 1110 to 1400 |
A score that is competitive at LSU lands in the same part of the range at these schools. Cohorts differ by school, so read each page's notes before comparing.
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Find my teen's target scoreThere is no published minimum; the middle half of the reported group scored 1180 to 1320. A score at or above 1320 puts a student in the top quarter of that group. A score near 1180 is within the range, and grades, coursework and the rest of the application still decide the outcome.
LSU lists its policy as: Required for fall 2027 applicants with a weighted GPA below 3.5; optional at 3.5+. Check the official admissions page for your entry term before choosing test dates.
73.3% (fall 2024, 47,065 applicants). Rates vary by program and residency, so read the overall figure as context, not a personal prediction.
No. A middle 50% is a description of last year's group, not a cutoff in either direction. It tells you where a score is competitive, which is the useful part for planning test dates.
Want to know what your teen needs for LSU? Their target, their gap and the weeks to close it are what we map in the free Strategy Session.
Book the free Strategy Session. You leave with your teen's target score, their gap, and a 6 to 12 week plan. Yours to keep either way.
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