SAT Scores for Louisiana Colleges, School by School (2026-27)

For fall 2027 entry, LSU requires the ACT or SAT only from applicants with a weighted high school GPA below 3.5 (3.5+ stays test optional); Tulane is test optional through fall 2028 and will require testing again starting with fall 2029 applicants; Louisiana Tech, UL Lafayette, Southeastern, McNeese, LSU Shreveport, Xavier, Grambling, and Southern all report scores as 'not required, but considered if submitted' in their most recent federal filings, and most of their enrolled students submit an ACT rather than an SAT. Published score ranges describe a cohort; they are not admission cutoffs.

The table covers 11 colleges Louisiana families apply to most, from the most selective to the large public universities. Read each cohort note before comparing numbers. The bottom rows show the score-based money Louisiana families can earn: TOPS Opportunity Award and TOPS Honors Award.

Louisiana college score profiles and cohort notes

Cohort notes: Tulane: Tulane's own admissions office says admitted students who submit scores average 32-34 ACT and over 1450 SAT, and recommends submitting above a 1300 SAT or 28 ACT. LSU: LSU's Board of Supervisors reinstated the test requirement in Feb 2026 after a test-optional window that began in 2022. Louisiana Tech: Only 5% of Louisiana Tech's enrolled class submitted an SAT; 80% submitted an ACT. The school publishes SAT section ranges, not a composite middle 50%. UL Lafayette: Only 1% of UL Lafayette's enrolled class submitted an SAT score; 45% submitted an ACT. The school publishes SAT section ranges, not a composite middle 50%. Loyola New Orleans: Only 6% of Loyola's enrolled first-year class submitted an SAT; 40% submitted an ACT. LSU Shreveport: Only 15 enrolled first-time students (5%) submitted an SAT score; 81% submitted an ACT. The school publishes SAT section ranges, not a composite middle 50%. McNeese: McNeese lists its own ACT school code (1594) and SAT code (6403) for sending scores directly. The school publishes SAT section ranges, not a composite middle 50%. Xavier: Xavier is the only historically Black, Catholic university in the US; 33% of its enrolled class submitted an SAT. The school publishes SAT section ranges, not a composite middle 50%. Southeastern Louisiana: 96% of Southeastern's enrolled class submitted an ACT; its CDS does not publish an SAT percentile table because so few submitted the SAT. Grambling: A historically Black university; only 6% of its enrolled class submitted an SAT score. The school publishes SAT section ranges, not a composite middle 50%. Southern University: The flagship of the Southern University System and the largest historically Black university system in the US; 12% of its enrolled class submitted an SAT. The school publishes SAT section ranges, not a composite middle 50%. These are not interchangeable measures.

School by school

Tulane University: 1430 to 1500

Tulane reports a 1430 to 1500 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, fall 2025, CDS 2025-26 (11% submitted SAT)). It admitted 14.5% of 32,942 applicants (fall 2025, CDS 2025-26). The matching ACT range is 31-34. Testing for fall 2027: Test optional through fall 2028; required again starting fall 2029 applicants. Tulane's own admissions office says admitted students who submit scores average 32-34 ACT and over 1450 SAT, and recommends submitting above a 1300 SAT or 28 ACT.

Louisiana State University: 1180 to 1320

LSU reports a 1180 to 1320 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, fall 2024 (CDS 2024-25)). It admitted 73.3% of 47,065 applicants (fall 2024). The matching ACT range is 24-30. Testing for fall 2027: Required for fall 2027 applicants with a weighted GPA below 3.5; optional at 3.5+. LSU's Board of Supervisors reinstated the test requirement in Feb 2026 after a test-optional window that began in 2022.

Louisiana Tech University: Not published

Louisiana Tech does not publish a composite SAT range for its latest class. It admitted 86% of 8,491 applicants (fall 2024). The matching ACT range is 21-27. Testing for fall 2027: Not required for admission, but considered if submitted. Only 5% of Louisiana Tech's enrolled class submitted an SAT; 80% submitted an ACT. The school publishes SAT section ranges, not a composite middle 50%.

University of Louisiana at Lafayette: Not published

UL Lafayette does not publish a composite SAT range for its latest class. It admitted 87% of 11,099 applicants (fall 2024). The matching ACT range is 23-28. Testing for fall 2027: Not required for admission, but considered if submitted. Only 1% of UL Lafayette's enrolled class submitted an SAT score; 45% submitted an ACT. The school publishes SAT section ranges, not a composite middle 50%.

Loyola University New Orleans: 1093 to 1285

Loyola New Orleans reports a 1093 to 1285 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, fall 2025 (CDS 2025-26)). It admitted ~91% of 6,080 applicants (fall 2025). The matching ACT range is 20-26. Testing for fall 2027: Test optional. Only 6% of Loyola's enrolled first-year class submitted an SAT; 40% submitted an ACT.

LSU Shreveport: Not published

LSU Shreveport does not publish a composite SAT range for its latest class. It admitted 51% of 1,917 applicants (fall 2024). The matching ACT range is 18-24. Testing for fall 2027: Not required for admission, but considered if submitted. Only 15 enrolled first-time students (5%) submitted an SAT score; 81% submitted an ACT. The school publishes SAT section ranges, not a composite middle 50%.

McNeese State University: Not published

McNeese does not publish a composite SAT range for its latest class. It admitted 78% of 3,902 applicants (fall 2024). The matching ACT range is 18-23. Testing for fall 2027: Not required for admission, but considered if submitted. McNeese lists its own ACT school code (1594) and SAT code (6403) for sending scores directly. The school publishes SAT section ranges, not a composite middle 50%.

Xavier University of Louisiana: Not published

Xavier does not publish a composite SAT range for its latest class. It admitted 69% of 10,260 applicants (fall 2024). The matching ACT range is 19-24. Testing for fall 2027: Not required for admission, but considered if submitted. Xavier is the only historically Black, Catholic university in the US; 33% of its enrolled class submitted an SAT. The school publishes SAT section ranges, not a composite middle 50%.

Southeastern Louisiana University: Not published

Southeastern Louisiana does not publish a composite SAT range for its latest class. It admitted 91.5% of 6,790 applicants (fall 2025). The matching ACT range is 20-25. Testing for fall 2027: SAT or ACT recommended; ACT-only also accepted. 96% of Southeastern's enrolled class submitted an ACT; its CDS does not publish an SAT percentile table because so few submitted the SAT.

Grambling State University: Not published

Grambling does not publish a composite SAT range for its latest class. It admitted 45% of 12,976 applicants (fall 2024). The matching ACT range is 15-19. Testing for fall 2027: Not required for admission, but considered if submitted. A historically Black university; only 6% of its enrolled class submitted an SAT score. The school publishes SAT section ranges, not a composite middle 50%.

Southern University and A&M College: Not published

Southern University does not publish a composite SAT range for its latest class. It admitted 35% of 24,340 applicants (fall 2024). The matching ACT range is 15-19. Testing for fall 2027: Not required for admission, but considered if submitted. The flagship of the Southern University System and the largest historically Black university system in the US; 12% of its enrolled class submitted an SAT. The school publishes SAT section ranges, not a composite middle 50%.

Where Louisiana's scholarship scores sit

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: 1030 SAT. $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: 1260 SAT. $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.

TOPS does not accept an ACT superscore or combine sub-scores across test dates; the qualifying score must come from one sitting. The GPA used is the TOPS Core Curriculum GPA (19 required high school units), not the student's overall GPA. Students must apply via FAFSA, enroll full-time within 16 months of high school graduation, and earn 24 credit hours a year to keep the award. A score after the April (ACT) or March (SAT) national test date of senior year still qualifies but costs the student one semester of eligibility. Register with LOSFA's ACT code 1595 or SAT code 9019 so scores are reported automatically.

The misconception: test optional means the SAT does not matter in Louisiana

Loyola New Orleans is test optional for fall 2027, so many families assume the score is irrelevant. The ranges above come from the students who chose to send one, and they sit well above the overall class. Tulane and LSU still require a score. And TOPS Opportunity Award and TOPS Honors Award are awarded on the SAT or ACT whatever the admissions policy.

Quick answers

What SAT score do you need for the Louisiana TOPS scholarship?

It depends on the tier. The base TOPS Opportunity Award needs a 1030 SAT (or 20 ACT) and a 2.50 TOPS Core GPA. TOPS Performance needs 1130 SAT (23 ACT) and a 3.25 GPA, and TOPS Honors needs 1260 SAT (27 ACT) and a 3.50 GPA. The score must come from one sitting; TOPS does not accept a superscore.

Does LSU require the SAT or ACT for admission?

Only sometimes. For fall 2027 applicants, LSU requires an ACT or SAT score if the student's weighted high school GPA is below 3.5. Students with a 3.5 or higher can apply test optional. LSU's Board of Supervisors reinstated this requirement in March 2026 after several years of being fully test optional.

Is the ACT given free at school in Louisiana?

Yes. Louisiana has required and funded a free ACT for every public high school junior since 2013 as part of its statewide assessment system, now given by computer. A qualifying score from that school-day test counts toward TOPS the same as a national test date score.

What SAT or ACT range does Tulane look for?

Tulane does not require testing, but its own admissions office says admitted students who choose to submit scores typically average a 32 to 34 on the ACT and over 1450 on the SAT, and it recommends submitting above a 1300 SAT or 28 ACT because those scores help a holistic application and are considered for merit scholarships.

Can my child use the SAT instead of the ACT to qualify for TOPS?

Yes. Louisiana is an ACT-first state, but LOSFA publishes an official SAT-equivalent score for every TOPS tier (1030 for Opportunity, 1130 for Performance, 1260 for Honors, and 1400 for Excellence), and a CLT-equivalent as well since the high school class of 2025. Whichever test is used, only the essay-excluded composite or ERW+Math total counts, and no superscoring is allowed.

Are these ranges cutoffs?

No. A middle 50% describes the central half of the reported group, not an admission cutoff. Some rows describe enrolled students or score submitters only, as labeled. A position within a range does not guarantee admission or merit aid.

More for Louisiana families

• SAT prep in Louisiana
• Louisiana SAT test dates for 2026-27
• Louisiana scholarship score requirements
• Find your teen's target score

Sources

University and state sources: Tulane, LSU, Louisiana Tech, UL Lafayette, Loyola New Orleans, LSU Shreveport, McNeese, Xavier, Southeastern Louisiana, Grambling, Southern University, TOPS Opportunity Award, TOPS Honors Award. Reviewed October 9, 2026. Cohorts and entry terms differ; confirm current requirements with each admissions office.